A scheme where people on low pay get a £500 payment if they have to self-isolate is being extended by Welsh Government.
The Self-Isolation Support Scheme was opened in November 2020 to help people who cannot work from home as well as parents and carers on low incomes with children who are self-isolating who have been told to isolate by the NHS Wales Test Trace Protect service because they have symptoms of coronavirus or are a close contact.
It has now been extended until next March. Finance minister Rebecca Evans has said another £4m will be made available to extend the scheme. So far, 13,200 payments have been made under the scheme.
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Mrs Evans said: "These payments are vital for anyone who has been told to isolate by Test Trace Protect but may experience financial hardship as a result of having to stay at home and miss work.
"The scheme is administered by local authorities and includes a discretionary element to provide support to those who need it most."
Health minister Eluned Morgan, who is herself currently self-isolating, said: "It’s so important that people self-isolate if they test positive for Covid-19 because this helps to stop the virus spreading.
"Test Trace Protect has been extremely effective at supporting both people who have tested positive and their contacts and providing advice, guidance and support. It’s important we continue to invest to provide support to those who need it the most.
"We have created guidance to ensure local authorities can access funding to provide support tailored to people’s needs, including alternative, temporary accommodation for those who can’t self-isolate safely or effectively."
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