The single most important action we can all take in fighting COVID-19 is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives. The guidance is very clear: you should stay at home except for very limited purposes. Every citizen must comply with these new measures and they are effective immediately.

If any employee can work from home, those employees should work from home – even if they work in an essential or critical sector.

There are numerous occupations where you do not have to be at work, and the government is being clear with employers that they need to think innovatively and adjust to the base principle being set out: your employees should stay at home unless there is a very good reason for them to be at work.

Where it is simply not possible for you to work from home you must stay at least 2m apart from your colleagues and follow extremely stringent hygiene precautions. If you do not feel that your employer is applying stringent enough controls you should raise these concerns with your employer or trade union representative as appropriate.

It is not possible to cover every scenario in the workplace, which is why the principle matters. Stay at home unless it is imperative for you to go out.