Some form of working from home is likely to continue for the long-term in a plan for how the country will live alongside Covid-19, according to reports.
The Politico London Playbook newsletter is this morning reporting that a government document is recommending that a number of measures will be required even after the country moves to stage four of the roadmap and a widespread unlocking.
The document outlines a series of recommendations now being considered by ministers on how the country can eventually “live with COVID."
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Playbook reports the recommendation in the document is that the government should not actively tell people to go back to the workplace when the country enters Step 4 of the roadmap.
There is instead a recommendation that the government should err on the side of caution with a 'hybrid approach' and look at ways to help people continue to work from home if there is no need for them to be in an office.
Offices could also be required to install ventilation systems and other measures to try and stop the spread of Covid-19.
The document seen by Playbook suggests that even when social distancing rules are lifted under stage 4 - currently planned for July 19 - life will still be considerably different to before the virus arrived.
There is particular concern among scientific experts that there will be another spike in infections toward the winter that could put the NHS under heavy pressure, as the colder weather sees people meet up indoors where the virus is more easily transmissible.
This could mean stronger measures are brought back in for the winter months.
One likely ongoing measure will be that people will still have to isolate if they experience covid symptoms, until they are cleared by a negative test.
Scientists have told government that it needs to be seen as the norm for people to isolate as soon as they develop symptoms like a cough, temperature or loss of taste or smell.
Ministers have also been told it is also likely that some form of border controls and post-travel isolation will be needed for a significant period to prevent new variants from entering the country.
A major issue related to isolation throughout the pandemic has been what many have seen as an inadequate sick pay offer from government for those forced to be off work while isolating.
Many believe people have felt unable to fully isolate for fear of running out of cash.
The report to ministers is highly critical of the sick pay support, finding that the current system only has a 'low to medium' level of effectiveness because people on low incomes or in insecure jobs don't have enough help.
Ministers are also being advised that those perspex screens that have appeared in some offices and restaurants are unlikely to have any benefit in terms of preventing transmission.
In response to the leaked document, the government told Playbook that no decision has been made on what the guidance and rules will look like after July 19 and that more data is required before such decisions are taken.
A government spokesperson said: “We have paused at Step 3 for up to four weeks due to the new Delta variant, and we will continue to assess the latest data on this variant over the coming weeks.”
