People living in north Herts will now be able to claim for discretionary £500 self-isolation payments after a £2million investment has been agreed for our country.

Those eligible for the payments will be able to access the new scheme which works alongside the local Test and Trace programme.

Those who test positive for Covid or are told to self-isolate, and are contacted by NHS Test and Trace, will be offered the £500 self-isolation payment if they are earning less than £500 per week after tax and National Insurance contributions, on condition that they strictly follow the law and self-isolate, and meet other criteria.

North Herts District Council (NHDC) is acting as administrator of the scheme in the district on behalf of central government.

The £2million of funding was agreed by a key group of public sector partners across public health, NHS, police and environmental health officers.

This extra money was approved by the Health Protection Board after the county's 10 district and borough councils, including NHDC, had already distributed the previous grants from central government.

Councillor Ian Albert, NHDC's Executive Member for Finance said: "We are pleased that this funding will help support eligible people in our district to follow the law and self-isolate after a positive Covid test.

"Infection rates are still at very high levels in North Herts and every individual needs to take responsibility not to spread it further.

"The loss of lives in our local communities continues, and if Covid positive, you need to save lives by self-isolating at home and not going out under any circumstances."

To apply visit the NHDC website [L]www.north-herts.gov.uk/home/emergency-planning/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-local-support-residents/test-and-trace[L+] here].L]