On 24 February 2022, Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation etc) (Revocation) (England) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/161) (Revocation Regulations) came into force which brought an end to the legal requirement to self-isolate after testing positive for COVID-19. The legal requirements for local authorities in England to impose restrictions on specific premises, planned events and open spaces which had previously been extended to 24 March 2022 have also been revoked from 24 February 2022.

The government issued guidance in place of this legal requirement which is intended to stay in place until 1 April 2022. This guidance suggests that those who test positive should stay at home whilst they have COVID-19. From 1 April 2022 onwards, the guidance suggests that those with symptoms of COVID-19 should exercise a level of personal responsibility (as those who may have flu are encouraged to be considerate to others).

From 1 April 2022, free symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public will end. However, free symptomatic tests for the oldest age groups and those most vulnerable to COVID-19 will be provided. The government is working with retailers to ensure that tests will be available to buy.

From 1 April 2022, the government will no longer recommend the use of voluntary COVID-19 status certification, although the NHS app will continue to allow people to indicate their vaccination status for international travel.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/161/made

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-living-with-covid-21-february-2022

The temporary measures put in place for right to work checks which were due to end on 5 April 2022 will now end on 30 September 2022.

The temporary measures allow for right to work checks to be carried out over video calls and allow for documentation to be scanned to an employer electronically as opposed to providing the originals.

This extension allows for the statutory defence against a civil penalty to be maintained by an employer if they undertake a right to work check in this way without the need to carry out a retrospective work check after doing an adjusted COVID-19 check.

The decision to defer the date was made following the positive feedback to the government’s announcement enabling employers to use Identification Document Validation Technology (IDVT) to carry out digital checks on British and Irish citizens who hold a valid passport from 6 April 2022.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-right-to-work-checks

In October 2021, the government blocked a private members bill which was intended to curb the practice of ‘fire and re-hire- practices (otherwise known as ‘termination and immediate re-engagement’).

Paul Scully MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy), suggested that the government has no current plans to legislate against the practice of fire and re-hire, and stated that employers should refer to the guidance on the subject by ACAS in November 2021.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-02-22/905688