Frontline health and social care workers in England may be able to continue working even if they are exposed to someone with Covid-19, the government said on Monday.
UK ministers are seeking to ease pressure on the health service caused by rising infections.
Cases of Covid-19 are surging in Britain, causing hundreds of thousands of workers to be told they must spend 10 days at home because they have been identified as a close contact of an infected person.
That has caused staff shortages in schools, businesses and the healthcare system.
To ease the burden on health care, where the rise in cases is causing increased workload, the government announced an exemption for fully vaccinated staff in exceptional circumstances.
The new rules will apply to staff whose absence would cause a significant risk of harm.
Those considered eligible will need to test negative for the virus and take daily tests throughout the period for which they would otherwise have been required to isolate.
"As we learn to live with this virus it's important that we ensure frontline staff can keep providing the best possible care and support to people up and down the country," said Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who is in isolation after testing positive on Saturday.
England is due to lift almost all coronavirus restrictions on Monday to help restart the economy.
But the UK government has warned that while vaccines have reduced death and hospital treatment rates, new infections could rise to record levels of 100,000 cases a day.
Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland make their own policy.
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
