A new testing scheme has been introduced to allow staff in the food supply chain, transport and emergency workers to avoid self-isolation should they come into contact with a positive Covid-19 case, regardless of their vaccination status.
The move follows concerns from many sectors about staff shortages as a result of being ‘pinged’ by the NHS Test & Trace app, with almost 608,000 contact tracing alerts sent in the week beginning 12 July. No. 10 announced on Monday 26 July that there will be 500 testing sites implemented to support the scheme.
The scheme will change from 16 August, where anyone in England who is fully vaccinated (and under-18’s who are unvaccinated) will be able to take daily tests instead of having to self-isolate. Sadiq Khan and many business leaders are urging the Prime Minister to bring this date forward for those who are fully vaccinated.
Sharon Smith, Chief Executive, said:
“The government’s plans to allow critical workers to test rather than self-isolate when identified as a close contact is important for the country’s vital services. This will come as a huge relief to those sectors who were faced with staff shortages.
It is vital that the government give businesses the best opportunity to recover from the past 16 months and a possible expansion to this scheme may need to be considered as more businesses and sectors suffer from the staff shortage crisis which could affect the recovery effort.”