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UK Covid live: minister says list of critical workers exempt from isolation rules will be limited UK Covid live: Zahawi says Covid pass could be compulsory for large events; 618,903 people ‘pinged’ last week
(32 minutes later)
Kwasi Kwarteng says scope of exemptions will be ‘very narrow’, implying that shop workers won’t be included despite pressures caused by ‘pingdemic’ Latest updates: vaccines minister says venues can use pass as condition of entry; record numbers in England and Wales ‘pinged’ by NHS Covid app
The businessman Lex Greensill was given “extraordinarily privileged” access to government while the government’s process for managing lobbying is insufficiently transparent and allows access to a “privileged few”, a report into the Greensill lobbying scandal commissioned by the prime minister has concluded. My colleague Rajeev Syal has the story here.
NHS figures show that a record 618,903 alerts were sent to users of the NHS Covid-19 app in England and Wales in the week to 14 July telling them they had been in close contact with someone who had tested positive for coronavirus, PA Media reports.
Jo Churchill, the public health minister, has been pinged, she has revealed on Twitter.
Zahawi says the country has taken a step forward this week, with the move to step 4 in England.
But he says people need to be cautious.
Today a new campaign is being launched encouraging people to carry on taking steps to stay safe, like wearing masks in crowded places, ensuring rooms are well ventilated, and getting tested regularly.
He says, after a successful trial, the government has rolled out the NHS Covid pass. This allows people to demonstrate their Covid status, whether proof of vaccination, test results or natural immunity. Anyone can access this through the NHS app, the NHS website or by calling 119 and asking for a letter, he says. He says venues can use this as a condition of entry.
And if large numbers of people are likely to go to a venue or event, then organisers should use the pass, he says. He says the government reserves the right to make its use compulsory in the future.
He also confirms that MPs will get a vote on the plans to use Covid passports.
He says new data suggests the vaccination programme has prevented 52,000 hospitalisations. The protection offered by the vaccine wall is getting stronger, he says.
He confirms that the government intends to go ahead with making being vaccinated a condition for entry to nightclubs from September.
Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccine deployment minister, is about to make a statement to MPs on coronavirus.Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccine deployment minister, is about to make a statement to MPs on coronavirus.
But before he starts Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker, says he was surprised a health minister, Helen Whately, made a statement to MPs yesterday without confirming the pay rise for NHS staff. He says the Commons should have been told first.But before he starts Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker, says he was surprised a health minister, Helen Whately, made a statement to MPs yesterday without confirming the pay rise for NHS staff. He says the Commons should have been told first.
Zahawi apologises for what happened.Zahawi apologises for what happened.
He refers to the department’s “inability” to make a statement yesterday. But he does not explain why Whately did not mention the pay rise.He refers to the department’s “inability” to make a statement yesterday. But he does not explain why Whately did not mention the pay rise.
The Road Haulage Association says lorry drivers should be included in the list of critical workers allowed to use testing as an alternative to isolation coming out today. Referring to shortages in shops, partly caused by drivers not being available, Rod McKenzie, the RHA’s managing director of policy, said:The Road Haulage Association says lorry drivers should be included in the list of critical workers allowed to use testing as an alternative to isolation coming out today. Referring to shortages in shops, partly caused by drivers not being available, Rod McKenzie, the RHA’s managing director of policy, said:
And another food industry executive told the Today programme this morning that he is telling staff told to isolate by the NHS Covid app to take a test and carry on working if they are negative.And another food industry executive told the Today programme this morning that he is telling staff told to isolate by the NHS Covid app to take a test and carry on working if they are negative.
This is contrary to government advice, which is that people pinged by the app should isolate.This is contrary to government advice, which is that people pinged by the app should isolate.
Andrew Selley, chief executive of Bidfood, a food distribution company, said that he considered his staff critical workers. He told the programme:Andrew Selley, chief executive of Bidfood, a food distribution company, said that he considered his staff critical workers. He told the programme:
When it was put to him that this policy was contrary to government advice, Selley replied:When it was put to him that this policy was contrary to government advice, Selley replied:
As PA Media reports, Selley said 100 staff from around 20 depots across the country were off isolating yesterday, presenting a “real challenge” with deliveries arriving late, or even the next day.As PA Media reports, Selley said 100 staff from around 20 depots across the country were off isolating yesterday, presenting a “real challenge” with deliveries arriving late, or even the next day.
Richard Walker, managing director of the supermarket firm Iceland, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning that although there is not a widespread problem with food shortages in stores now, the problem could soon get worse unless the government addresses the “pingdemic”. He said:Richard Walker, managing director of the supermarket firm Iceland, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning that although there is not a widespread problem with food shortages in stores now, the problem could soon get worse unless the government addresses the “pingdemic”. He said:
Good morning. On Monday Boris Johnson said that some critical workers would be allowed to use testing as an alternative to isolation after contact with someone testing positive, to save them from the “pingdemic”. But he refused to give details. No 10 said a bit more at lobby on Tuesday, but at PMQs yesterday Sir Keir Starmer said he had read the briefing several times and “I haven’t a clue what it means”.Good morning. On Monday Boris Johnson said that some critical workers would be allowed to use testing as an alternative to isolation after contact with someone testing positive, to save them from the “pingdemic”. But he refused to give details. No 10 said a bit more at lobby on Tuesday, but at PMQs yesterday Sir Keir Starmer said he had read the briefing several times and “I haven’t a clue what it means”.
This morning Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, was doing the morning interview round for No 10 and he said that today guidance will be published saying which critical workers will be exempt from the current isolation rules. He said:This morning Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, was doing the morning interview round for No 10 and he said that today guidance will be published saying which critical workers will be exempt from the current isolation rules. He said:
But, when asked on the Today programme if the food industry would be exempt, he refused to say. And earlier, in an interview on BBC Breakfast, he said the list of people exempt would be “very narrow”. He said:But, when asked on the Today programme if the food industry would be exempt, he refused to say. And earlier, in an interview on BBC Breakfast, he said the list of people exempt would be “very narrow”. He said:
If the food industry is not included on the critical workers list, retailers will be disappointed. With supermarkets under increasing pressure, partly because of the pingdemic, to keep their shelves stocked, retailers want an exemption. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, told BBC Breakfast this morning:If the food industry is not included on the critical workers list, retailers will be disappointed. With supermarkets under increasing pressure, partly because of the pingdemic, to keep their shelves stocked, retailers want an exemption. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, told BBC Breakfast this morning:
Here is the agenda for the day.Here is the agenda for the day.
9.30am: The ONS publishes the latest quarterly crime figures for England and Wales.9.30am: The ONS publishes the latest quarterly crime figures for England and Wales.
10.30am: Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccine deployment minister, makes a statement to MPs.10.30am: Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccine deployment minister, makes a statement to MPs.
11am: NHS test and trace publishes its latest performance figures.11am: NHS test and trace publishes its latest performance figures.
After 1.30pm: MPs begin a backbench debate on the public administration and constitutional affairs committee report (pdf) making recommendations for the Covid inquiry.After 1.30pm: MPs begin a backbench debate on the public administration and constitutional affairs committee report (pdf) making recommendations for the Covid inquiry.
2pm: Public Health England publishes its latest weekly Covid surveillance report.2pm: Public Health England publishes its latest weekly Covid surveillance report.
Politics Live has been a mix of Covid and non-Covid news recently and that will probably be the case today. For more coronavirus developments, do follow our global Covid live blog.Politics Live has been a mix of Covid and non-Covid news recently and that will probably be the case today. For more coronavirus developments, do follow our global Covid live blog.
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