he criminal bar is pushing for fully vaccinated barristers to be exempt from self-isolating, in a bid to keep court cases on track.
The Criminal Bar Association said it is working with the Bar Council and resident judges to extend the scope of self-isolation exemptions to include ‘double-jabbed, negative-testing barristers’ who are appearing in trials over the next two weeks.
While prison workers are due to be added to the list of exempted sector workers, court professionals are not. It remains the default position that until 16 August all barristers must self-isolate if they are notified by the NHS Covid app or come into close contact with those testing positive for Covid 19.
