Key worker criteria: what are the criteria to be a key worker?

A key worker is defined as being a worker whose role is essential to public health and safety. If their job was not carried out, the basic skeleton of society would not function, let alone

exist. Workers whose jobs are critical to the COVID-19 response or those who work in one of the critical sectors listed below are classed as key workers. HEALTHCARE WORKERS All NHS staff are

key workers, from the doctor to the cleaner to the administrative staff. In addition, the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector are

considered key workers. This includes those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributors of medicines and medical and personal protective

equipment (PPE). LOCAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT This only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response, or delivering essential

public services, such as the payment of benefits. FOOD AND OTHER NECESSARY GOODS Workers who are involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery, as well as those

essential to the provision of other key goods – for example, hygienic and veterinary medicines. PUBLIC SAFETY AND NATIONAL SECURITY This includes police and support staff, Ministry of

Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel. This includes those redeployed to help in the fight against COVID-19, fire and rescue service employees (including support staff),

National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those based overseas. TRANSPORT This includes those

who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating, including those working on transport systems which supply chains pass through. UTILITIES,

COMMUNICATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES This includes all staff needed for essential financial services provision, including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and

financial market infrastructure. People who work in oil, gas, electricity and water sectors, such as household supply and sewerage. IT and data infrastructure sector and primary industry

supplies to continue during the COVID-19 response, as well as key staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications including but not limited to network operations,

engineering, call centre staff, 999 and 111 critical services, postal services, and payments providers. Employees should speak to their employer if they are unsure if they are a key worker

or not. A No 10 spokesperson said: "Employees should speak to their employers. "People who can work from home should, but those who are central to the coronavirus effort, we

believe, have been named as key workers," they said."