Covid-19 UK: Record 1.5MILLION self-isolation alerts were sent last week, official data shows

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A record 1.5million people were asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace last week, official data shows as England’s ‘pingdemic’ chaos continues to rage on.

NHS figures show nearly 690,000 alerts were given out by the app last week, the highest number since it was introduced.

A further 536,000 people were reached by call handlers, while 308,000 were asked to isolate after testing positive for the virus. 

In total, more than 3.9million people have been told to isolate since the start of July, the data shows. 

However, a single person may be identified by the app and call handlers before going on to test positive themselves — or be asked to isolate multiple times in the same month — so the true number of individuals isolating is likely to be lower.

The damning statistics come as ministers continue to face heavy criticism for refusing to ditch isolation requirements despite lifting restrictions on ‘Freedom Day’.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick today acknowledged the system is ‘frustrating’ but continued to urge people to isolate if they are pinged.

One of the Government’s top scientific advisors yesterday said he advised ministers to adopt a ‘test and release’ strategy as early as January, but Boris Johnson has so far refused to budge on the August 16 date for scrapping self-isolation for the double-jabbed.

And millions of workers across the country have been left unable to do their jobs because they are forced to isolate — despite not testing positive for the virus themselves.

Industry bosses have slammed the current system for forcing business to shut up shop because of the loss of workforce. 

The latest NHS figures on alerts from the app for the week to July 21, are an 11 per cent rise on the previous record high of 619,733 alerts a week earlier.

This week the Government said it was expanding its daily contact testing for front-line sectors who are exempt from isolation.

A total of 2,000 sites across the country are available for people working in prisons, waste collection, defence, the food industry, transport, Border Force and police and fire services.

Daily negative test results will enable eligible workers who have been alerted by the NHS Covid app or called by NHS Test and Trace as coronavirus contacts to continue working.

But one in four young adults who test positive no longer follow the rules for self-isolating, a survey published today suggested.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows adherence to isolation rules in people in people aged 18 to 34 who tested positive for Covid were consistently dropping in the three months leading up to July.

A survey of 936 adults between July 5 and 10 showed significantly more people aged 18 to 34 ignored the order to stay at home despite being infected with the virus than any other age group. 

Around 75 per cent adhered to the rules — less than those aged 55 and over (81 per cent) and between 35 and 54 (86 per cent).

And 18- to 34-year-olds’ adherence dropped compared to the weeks ending May 15 (88 per cent) and June 12 (77 per cent).

People who test positive for Covid must self-isolate for 10 days under Government rules. If symptoms persist they are encouraged to keep isolating longer.

Anyone who breaches the law can be fined up to £10,000. First-time offenders can get a £1,000 penalty.

The Communities Secretary urged people to continue following the rules and isolate if they are pinged.

Mr Jenrick BBC news channel: ‘I appreciate that it is a significant number of people and it can be frustrating but the app is doing what we asked of it.

‘It is helping us to trace those people who have come into contact with people who’ve tested positive.

‘We still ask people, if they are pinged, to take the steps that they’re required to do and to self-isolate.’

He said there ‘isn’t very long to go’ until August 16 when all fully vaccinated contacts who test negative can avoid isolation.

He added: ‘The Government has also set out slightly different arrangements for certain critical workers such as those working within the emergency services and within critical infrastructure such as the food industry, to help us through the remaining two or three weeks before those new rules come into place.’

The recent surge in cases across England has led to millions of people being told to stay at home, either through the NHS app or Test and Trace. 

Supermarket shelves have been left empty and trains cancelled because of a lack of staff. 

Alan Thomas, UK chief executive at Simply Business — which provides insurance to small business — said: ‘The “pingdemic” is proving another obstacle for small businesses in their recovery from the impact of Covid. 

‘The number of staff — and indeed self-employed people — in isolation is a major issue across every industry, and up and down the country we’re seeing businesses temporarily close due to record levels of self-isolation.

‘Freedom day was supposed to be a positive milestone for the self-employed — with businesses finally able to operate at full capacity, or even open for the first time. 

‘But many are now finding themselves shutting up shop once again.’

Tesco is offering a £1,000 joining bonus to lorry drivers who join the company before the end of September because of staffing pressures.

The payment, which applies to new starters who join from July 14 until September 30, appears on various advertisements for HGV driver roles on the food retailer’s website.

Potential candidates are told that the role offers the opportunity to be “an ambassador on our roads” where “you’ll play a vital role for our customers and communities, representing Tesco on the highways and byways of the UK”.

The time-limited offer comes after supermarkets had to reassure customers last week that there was no need to panic buy following pictures of half-empty shelves and reports of temporary shortages.

A ‘perfect storm’ of aggravating factors was blamed for the situation, including self-isolating workers and prior staff shortages.

Last week the British Retail Consortium (BRC) warned that staff shortages, caused by large numbers of workers self-isolating after being pinged by the NHS Covid-19 app, was ‘putting increasing pressure on retailers’ ability to maintain opening hours and keep shelves stocked’.

Meanwhile, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) previously said it believes there is a shortfall of about 60,000 haulage drivers in the UK after around 30,000 HGV driving tests did not take place last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hauliers blamed the shortage on a large proportion of drivers being foreign nationals from European countries who had returned to the EU, combined with truck drivers not being included on the Government’s list of skilled labour, leaving new arrivals needing immigration paperwork.

Tesco previously assured shoppers it had plenty of food and all grocers urged customers to shop as normal.