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Covid-19: More testing sites for key workers to avoid isolation in England Covid-19: Daily tests to avoid isolation expanded in England
(about 2 hours later)
More workers will be able to avoid self-isolation if they are a contact of a Covid case as the government expands workplace testing in England. A scheme to allow key workers to avoid Covid self-isolation in England has been significantly expanded following criticism it did not go far enough.
Police, firefighters, Border Force staff, transport and freight workers were already eligible for exemption from self-isolation in some cases. Police, fire, Border Force, transport and freight staff will now be able to join a daily workplace test scheme, whether they are vaccinated or not.
But their employers needed to specify double-jabbed workers' names. It follows the announcement that up to 10,000 supermarket depot and food factory workers would be eligible.
Now they will be able to join the daily contact workplace testing scheme, whether or not they are vaccinated. Warnings of staff shortages have come from several sectors in recent days.
The daily test scheme was announced by the government on Thursday for supermarket depots and food manufacturers. Police forces, local authorities, transport providers and supermarkets were among those calling for a review of self-isolation rules to avoid crippling shutdowns or skeleton operations.
Fifteen testing sites were initially announced - although these won't be running until at least Monday.
The government has now announced "an expected initial 200 new testing sites", and broadened the range of eligible sectors.
It means eligible workers who are alerted by the NHS Covid-19 app in England - or contacted by NHS Test and Trace - will be able to continue working if they test negative each day, whatever their vaccination status.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "Daily testing will keep our frontline teams safe while they continue to serve the public and communities across our country."Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "Daily testing will keep our frontline teams safe while they continue to serve the public and communities across our country."
The exemptions from self-isolation came after concerns from several sectors that staff shortages were making normal work impossible, with a growing number of people told to self-isolate for 10 days. The latest changes come ahead of a planned overhaul of self-isolation rules from 16 August in England - when all those who are fully vaccinated would avoid having to isolate and instead carry out daily testing.
Nearly 608,000 contact tracing alerts were sent in England in the week between 8 and 15 July - a record high. It comes as Mayor of London Sadiq Khan joined leading business figures in urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to bring this date forward and end self-isolation for close contacts if they are fully vaccinated.
What happens if I'm 'pinged' by the app? They called for more testing sites to allow those who are "pinged" by the NHS Covid-19 app and test negative for the virus, to keep working.
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Khan urges PM to change isolation rules earlier Check the latest rules in your area
However, it is not clear when the 200 additional new testing sites will be available. A growing number of people have been told to self-isolate for 10 days after coming into close contact with a confirmed coronavirus case.
The government's promise to start testing at 15 "crucial" supermarket depots on Friday was delayed until Monday. Almost 608,000 contact tracing alerts were sent from the NHS Covid-19 app in the week to 15 July - a record high.
From 16 August, fully-vaccinated people in England will not need to isolate after being in close contact with a Covid case. The daily test scheme means eligible workers who are alerted by the app in England - or contacted by NHS Test and Trace - will be able to continue working if they test negative each day, whatever their vaccination status.
The BBC Lewis Goodall said "confusion - if not some chaos - has reigned in Whitehall over the past 24 hours days as ministers and officials grapple with the large number of workers being told to self isolate". On Friday evening, the government announced "an expected initial 200 new testing sites" to help screen those who are eligible.
The high number of notifications sent - branded a "pingdemic" - has led to criticism around the rules of self-isolation, with many businesses forced to close or reduce their service. Critical workers in the health, food and transport sectors can apply to be exempt from self-isolation in Scotland.
Announcing the new testing sites, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: "Daily contact testing of workers in these critical sectors will help to minimise any disruption caused by rising cases in the coming weeks, while ensuring staff are not put at risk." A separate scheme in England allows employers to apply in advance for exemptions for named fully-vaccinated critical workers in a small number of industries, such as the energy sector.
It is not clear when the 200 additional new testing sites will be available.
BBC Newsnight policy editor Lewis Goodall said "confusion - if not some chaos - has reigned in Whitehall over the past 24 hours days as ministers and officials grapple with the large number of workers being told to self isolate".
The high number of notifications sent - branded a "pingdemic" - led to shortages of some products in supermarkets and staffing problems for frontline services.
Announcing the new testing sites and the broader list of eligible workers, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said daily contact testing would "help to minimise any disruption caused by rising cases in the coming weeks, while ensuring staff are not put at risk".
Under current self-isolation rules in England, anyone who is traced as a close contact of a confirmed positive case must isolate for 10 days, whether or not they have received both doses of a vaccine.
The change to rules, planned from 16 August will also mean under-18s will no longer be required to self-isolate if they are contact traced.
Similar rules are due to come into force in Scotland from 9 August - and in Wales from 7 August.
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Meanwhile, Friday's daily figures showed Covid cases were down for the third consecutive day in the UK, with 36,389 new infections.Meanwhile, Friday's daily figures showed Covid cases were down for the third consecutive day in the UK, with 36,389 new infections.
It is too soon to say if cases have peaked, however, given that the statistics do not capture the impact of unlocking that happened on 19 July.It is too soon to say if cases have peaked, however, given that the statistics do not capture the impact of unlocking that happened on 19 July.
The latest estimate of R - which measures how quickly the virus is spreading - is unchanged from the previous week at 1.2 to 1.4.The latest estimate of R - which measures how quickly the virus is spreading - is unchanged from the previous week at 1.2 to 1.4.
It means that on average, every 10 people infected with coronavirus goes on to infect between 12 and 14 others.It means that on average, every 10 people infected with coronavirus goes on to infect between 12 and 14 others.
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