Health workers, nursery staff, some council staff and people working on food production lines have been included on the list of workers allowed to send their children to school during the coronavirus shutdown.
The “key workers” will be able to put their children in school next week while every other child stays at home in a bid to slow the spread of Covid-19.
It comes as supermarkets – whose staff are on the list – struggle to keep stores stocked as a result of the panic buying that has gripped the nation.
Asda, for instance, which has assured staff they will get full pay if forced to isolate because of the virus, is offering shifts or a temporary secondments to people who have lost work in sectors such as travel and restaurants.
Meanwhile the CBI said the list would have to be reviewed as the nation came to terms with the crisis.
Matthew Fell, chief 海角视频 policy director of the Confederation of British Industries, which speaks on behalf of 190,000 businesses, said: “Defining which workers are critical to the national effort is a difficult task.
“Today's list will help business and individuals to plan.
“But the need for different jobs will change in the weeks ahead, so the list must be kept under constant review with additions where necessary.”
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The global death toll for the disease – which can attack the respiratory system in some people – topped 10,000.
From Monday the Department of Education has asked schools to continue to provide care for children whose parents and carers work in critical professions.
Those professions are:
- Health and social care
This includes frontline health and social care staff - such as doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, as well as support and specialist staff in the health and social care sector.
In addition, those working in supply chains, including producers and distributors of medicines and personal protective equipment are included.
- Education and childcare
This includes nursery, teaching staff and social workers, as the department said these workers are required to deliver their plans.
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- Key public services
Those required to run the justice system, religious staff, as well as those responsible for managing the deceased and journalists providing public service broadcasting are on the list.
- Local and national government
The list "only includes administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the Covid-19 response or delivering essential public services", including payment of benefits.
- Food and other necessary goods
The list includes those involved in the production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery of food.
- Public safety and national security
Police, support staff, MOD civilians and armed forces personnel are on the list, along with fire and rescue staff, as well as those responsible for border security, prison and probation staff.
- Transport
The list includes those who will keep "air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response".
- Utilities, communication and financial services
Staff required to keep oil, gas, electricity, water and sewerage operations running are on the list, along with those in the civil nuclear, chemical and telecommunications sectors.
Those in postal services and working to provide essential financial services provision are also included.