Reports of takeaway employee working despite having Covid

PC Tom Van Der Wee of the Sussex Roads Policing Unit provided updates on social media as he set out to crack down on those flouting restrictions yesterday evening.

Working alongside a colleague, he responded to several reports including a takeaway employee who had continued to work despite testing positive for Covid-19.

In an update at 4.56pm yesterday, PC Van Der Wee said: "I’m working with PC Green today on a dedicated car that is responding to breaches of Covid regulations.

"We’re currently on the way to someone who has tested positive for Covid but is failing to self isolate.

"Let’s hope this isn’t the case."

In a second update posted on his Twitter account at 6.36pm, PC Van Der Wee revealed more details on what had turned out to be a busy shift.

He said: "So far tonight we’ve responded to reports of people visiting houses that shouldn’t be, someone with Covid who is allegedly still working in a takeaway and we’re now off to a holiday rental that is allegedly being occupied by a number of people."

PC Tom Van Der Wee responded to several reports of Covid rule breaches on Sunday night

Government rules state that "anyone with Covid-19 symptoms or a positive test result should stay at home and self-isolate immediately".

"This is because you could pass the infection on to others, even if you don’t have symptoms.

"You could be fined if you do not self-isolate following a notification by NHS Test and Trace."

The legal duty to self-isolate came into force on September 28 last year.

Support is available for those who are required to self-isolate, are on low incomes and are unable to work while isolating through the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment.

But, anyone caught breaking their mandated isolation is liable to a fine of £1,000, which can increase up to £10,000 for repeat offenders.

Police can also take action against those meeting in larger groups.

Under current lockdown rules, it is against the law to meet socially with family or friends unless they are part of a person's household or support bubble.

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"You cannot leave home for recreational or leisure purposes (such as for a picnic or a social meeting)," the government restrictions state.

When exercising, people can meet one person from another household, so long as social distancing measures are adhered to. But anyone mixing in larger groups can be punished.

The government website states: "You must not leave or be outside of your home except where you have a ‘reasonable excuse’. This is the law.

"The police can take action against you if you leave home without a ‘reasonable excuse’, and issue you with a fine.

"You can be given a fixed penalty notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400."

Reasonable excuses include work, volunteering, essential activities, education and childcare, exercise, medical reasons, maternity, escaping harm, compassionate visits, animal welfare reasons, and communal worship and life events.