Ministers in the UK are considering paying £500 (€560) to everyone who tests positive for coronavirus to increase the number of people abiding by quarantine rules.
Scientists welcomed the suggestion of more financial support but UK government sources were adamant the plan will not go ahead, with one saying bluntly: “Won’t happen.”
It is estimated the proposal of extending £500 payments to everyone who tests positive for Covid-19 in England, rather than just those who are on low incomes and are unable to work from home, would cost up to £453 million per week.
It is the “preferred position” of the England's department of health, according to a leaked document seen by The Guardian.
England's environment secretary George Eustice Eustice told Sky News: “We do need people, if they are asked to self-isolate because they have been contacted through our Test and Trace, we do need them to self-isolate.
“And, obviously, we always review the reasons why they might not.”
On the payment, Mr Eustice added: “No decisions have been made on this.
“But this is a dynamic, fast-moving situation with the pandemic.
“We are always keeping multiple policies under review.”
Mr Eustice said a full border closure to all visitors from abroad has been considered, adding that there “is concern at the moment about the number of mutant strains”.
The £500 payment plan was reportedly prompted by Government polling indicating that only 17 per cent of people with symptoms are coming forward for testing.
Some 25 per cent are thought to comply with rules to self-isolate for 10 days after testing positive and 15 per cent continue to go to work as normal.
'Incentivises' infections
There was hostility to the proposal in some parts of the British government, with one source saying the plan “incentivises people to catch Covid”.
Prof Susan Michie, an adviser on the UK’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There is a particular group of people who would need more from that £500 but at least the Government is recognising this is a key weakness in the whole pandemic strategy.
“If you have 82 per cent of people with symptoms wandering around the community, it is very, very difficult to bring this level down.”
The Resolution Foundation think tank said the current approach, which it estimates only around 13 per cent of workers are eligible for, is “not fit for purpose”.
Researcher Maja Gustafsson said: “Swiftly putting in place a much more universal and generous system will make a real difference to controlling the spread of the virus.”
The UK government is grappling with ways to bring the infection rate down as the vaccine programme is rolled out.
British prime minister Boris Johnson has been unable to rule out that the national lockdown in England may last until the summer.
In Northern Ireland, the lockdown was extended for a further four weeks until March 5th.
