Before the COVID-19 pandemic, health boards were required to compensate people who they asked to self-isolate due to an infectious disease. This was required by the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008.
The Coronavirus Act 2020 changed this. The 2020 Act let health boards decide whether people who are self-isolating because of COVID-19 received compensation under the 2008 Act. The relevant provision of the 2020 Act will expire in March 2022.
This Bill would change the law so that health boards will still have the option to provide compensation. However, they will not be obliged to do so, to anyone they ask to self-isolate due to COVID-19.
The law will apply until 31 October 2022. The Bill allows for the Scottish Government to reduce or extend that period if required.
The Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 15 November 2021.
- Read more about the Bill on the Scottish Parliament's website
- We responded to the COVID-19 Recovery Committee's call for views
- Our Director of Law Reform, Michael Clancy, gave evidence to the COVID-19 Recovery committee on 2 December 2021
- We issued a briefing ahead of Stage 3 proceedings in February 2022.
