Do you need a sick note for COVID-19? If you’re unable to work for more than seven days, you can obtain an isolation note through a new online service.
Isolation notes will provide employees with evidence for their employers that they have been advised to self-isolate due to COVID-19. Either because they have symptoms or they live with someone who has symptoms, and so cannot work.
As isolation notes can be obtained without contacting a doctor, this will reduce the pressure on GP surgeries and prevent people needing to leave their homes.
Do you need a Sick Note for Covid-19?
For the first seven days off work, employees can self-certify so they don’t need any evidence for their employer.
After that, employers may ask for evidence of sickness absence. Where this is related to having symptoms of COVID-19 or living with someone who has symptoms, the isolation note can be used to provide evidence of the advice to self-isolate.
People who need to claim Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance because of COVID-19 will not be required to produce a fit note or an isolation note.
How to access an Isolation Sick Note
The notes can be accessed online at https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note.
After answering a few questions, an isolation note will be emailed to you.
If you don’t have an email address, the note can be sent to a trusted family member or friend, or directly to your employer.
The service can also be used to generate an isolation note on behalf of someone else.
The isolation note service can be accessed via the 111 online COVID-19 service or NHS.UK/coronavirus as well as via the NHS app.
Ease the Burden
Fylde Coast GP and lead clinician for NHS Blackpool and NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Groups Dr Adam Janjua, said: “It is absolutely vital we do everything we can to ease the burden on local healthcare professionals, allowing them to spend as much time as possible with those patients who need them most.
“Digital isolation notes will provide reassurance to those self-isolating and their employers. It will also reduce the pressure on our NHS, so they can continue doing all they can to protect the people of this country and save lives.”
The isolation note service can be accessed via the 111 online COVID-19 service or NHS.UK/coronavirus as well as via the NHS app.
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