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Covid-19: Daily tests to avoid isolation expanded in England Covid-19: Daily tests to avoid isolation expanded in England
(32 minutes later)
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.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, fire, Border Force, transport and freight staff will now be able to join a daily workplace test scheme, whether they are vaccinated or not.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.
It follows the announcement that up to 10,000 supermarket depot and food factory workers would be eligible. As many as 10,000 supermarket depot and food factory workers will also be eligible.
Warnings of staff shortages have come from several sectors in recent days. Several sectors have warned of staff shortages in recent days.
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. Currently, most people identified as close contacts of someone with coronavirus have to self-isolate for 10 days.
Police forces, local authorities, transport providers and supermarkets were among those calling for a review of the rules to avoid crippling shutdowns or skeleton operations.
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 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. From 16 August anyone in England who is fully vaccinated - and unvaccinated under-18s - will be able to take daily tests instead of self-isolating. Similar rules come into force in Scotland from 9 August - and in Wales from 7 August.
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. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has 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.
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.
Which workers don't have to self-isolate?Which workers don't have to self-isolate?
Check the latest rules in your areaCheck the latest rules in your area
A growing number of people have been told to self-isolate for 10 days after coming into close contact with a confirmed coronavirus case. Growing numbers of people have been told to self-isolate , with almost 608,000 contact tracing alerts sent from the NHS Covid-19 app in the week to 15 July - a record high.
Almost 608,000 contact tracing alerts were sent from the NHS Covid-19 app in the week to 15 July - a record high. This so-called "pingdemic" has led to shortages of some products in supermarkets and staffing problems for frontline services.
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 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.
On Friday evening, the government announced "an expected initial 200 new testing sites" to help screen those who are eligible. Ports, airports, rail infrastructure and haulage workers, alongside frontline police, fire and Border Force staff will now be eligible.
Critical workers in the health, food and transport sectors can apply to be exempt from self-isolation in Scotland. The government has announced an extra 200 testing sites to help screen these workers - but it is not clear when these will open.
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.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. In Scotland, critical workers in the health, food and transport sectors can apply to be exempt from self-isolation.
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". 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 disruption caused by rising cases while ensuring staff were not put at risk.
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 whether 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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