As food industry bosses condemned the changes made to alleviate the “plague” as “worse than useless,” dissatisfaction with the government’s self-isolation policy is increasing day by day. Hotel industry leaders warned that the summer will be closed and train operators are forced to cut services.
More and more people are calling for Boris Johnson Due to the surge in coronavirus cases, employees are required to be isolated, and companies are hindered, so he has relaxed the isolation requirements for fully vaccinated more extensively from August 16.
To quell industry’s concerns, the ministers published a limited list of industries that would be eligible to avoid being quarantined if they were to undergo daily testing before England’s wider rules were relaxed.
Industry leaders said the move did not include enough workers, but doctors warned that the problem was Prime Minister Let the virus “tear” instead of letting the “pings” from the NHS Covid-19 app tell the coronavirus contacts to quarantine.
Increasing criticism comes from the National Bureau of Statistics (ONS) data showing that Covid-19 cases continue to rise, with approximately 75 people in England infected with 1 person.
In the week ending July 17, the number of people who tested positive was estimated at 741,700, the highest level since the week ending January 30.
Among the emergency measures to protect supplies, it is expected that approximately 10,000 food sector workers will join the program, allowing vaccinated workers to be exempted from quarantine if they test negative. Other key economic sectors and important public service sectors are also included.
But Richard Harrow, chief executive of the British Frozen Food Federation, expressed concern that some areas of the supply chain may release more workers, but other areas such as supermarkets will not.
“This again shows government Don’t understand the degree of interconnection in the food supply chain Only opening up the part is unlikely to solve the overall problem. In addition, who goes in and who goes out, who decides and how do they decide? “He told PA News Agency.
“The chaos continues to spread, and I was told that there was no list before Monday. This is worse than useless.”
Richard Walker, the managing director of Iceland, said he was “deeply disappointed that supermarket employees were excluded from the list.”
In order to promote the new quarantine rules for key workers, the government stated that daily inspections at workplaces in the food supply chain will be extended to frontline emergency services and some transportation workers, and an additional 200 inspection points are expected.
However, due to staff self-isolation, a large number of flights were cancelled at the last minute, and railways across England are reducing timetables to improve reliability. In the week ending July 14, more than 600,000 people in England and Wales were affected by the application. Tell to isolate.
Transport for London warned this weekend that routes would be closed and cancelled, and more than 300 employees were quarantined, while Thameslink, Southern and Avanti West Coast will reduce services from Monday.
Due to the quarantine order, Cornwall Airport Newquay has been “largely affected” by the shortage of personnel, and its boss is not optimistic about the discussion with the Department of Transportation on the exemption.
Managing Director Peter Downs told BBC Radio 4’s Today program: “We were told that there would be exemptions for a very small number of people, one and two people, rather than a large number of employees.
“When we have one quarter to one third of a single team pinged by the system in some cases, and once you get people back, you usually lose other people’s new notifications, we don’t I believe the plan will cater to this.”
One industry that is not on the exemption list is the hotel industry. Its trade association warned the industry to “tie one hand behind us” because employees were forced to isolate themselves from the outside world during Covid-19 contacts that should be the peak season.
Kate Nichols, CEO of UKHospitality, called for a “more pragmatic solution”. He said: “We are now facing a summer of closed venues and reduced services, and at this time we should be at a seasonal peak. The department will do its best. Provide quality service, but it ties one hand behind us.
“Those who are fully vaccinated should be able to test after the ping, and if the result is negative, they can continue their lives. For those who are not fully vaccinated, two negative tests should be enough to return to work.”
Mayor of London Sadik Khan Join the ranks of business leaders to demand “immediately” relaxation of the rules for fully vaccinated people reminded by the NHS Covid-19 app.
Former Tory Minister of Health Jeremy Hunt said that if the government does not immediately propose a broader relaxation of the quarantine regulations, the government may “lost social consent” due to the quarantine.
His call was answered by colleagues from the Conservative Party Greg Clark Former Secretary of Commerce, currently Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee of the House of Commons.
“We know that a new system will be launched on August 16th. If you are designated as a contact, you can be tested and only quarantine if you are positive-I don’t understand why we can’t start. It’s July 23rd. Instead of waiting,” he told BBC Radio 4’s World At One show.
But the British Medical Association stated that the problem is not the “excessive ping” of the NHS Covid-19 app, but the government’s coronavirus strategy that has led to a “surge in the number of cases.”
Dr. Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of its board of directors, said that the number of people in quarantine is “the direct result of the government’s lack of effective measures to spread the virus throughout the country.”
Local government associations say that public health directors have been overwhelmed by inquiries from employers who believe their employees should be exempted.
City council representatives warned that services such as garbage collection, road repairs and park maintenance provided by local authorities may be affected.
