Pingdemic: Food workers added to self-isolation exemption list
Key workers in the food industry have been added to the government’s self-isolation exemption list.
Staff at supermarket depos and food manufacturers will be able to take daily tests and not need to self-isolate after being pinged by the NHS Covid-19 app if they test negative for Covid.
The move comes as major British supermarkets are struggling to keep shelves stocked amid severe worker shortages due to high levels of staff being pinged by the app.
Read more: Government monitoring ‘concerning’ supermarket shortages caused by ‘pingdemic’
Figures released this week show 618,903 were told to self-isolate by the app.
Some retailers have had to close stores as a result of the so-called “pingdemic”, but have said food shortages were not likely to persist.
The move marks another u-turn after the government said yesterday supermarket workers would not be added to the self-isolation exemption list.
Read more: Pingdemic: Government urged to expand self-isolation exemption list