UK Dials Down COVID-19 App to Ease Self-Isolation Chaos

Under pressure from businesses and unions, the UK government has dialled down its COVID-19 app in order to ease the labour shortage that has resulted from large numbers of workers having to self-isolate.

As a result of a government review, the app will now instruct fewer people to self-isolate following contact with a person who has tested positive for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

While the app would previously instruct close contacts five days prior to a positive test to self-isolate, it will now look back at contacts only two days prior to a positive test.

In a statement, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “We want to reduce the disruption that self-isolation can cause for people and businesses, while ensuring we’re protecting those most at risk from this virus. This update to the app will help ensure that we are striking the right balance.”

He stressed that it is still important for people to isolate when asked to do so in order to curb the spread of the virus.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the update “does not impact the sensitivity of the app, or change the risk threshold, and will result in the same number of high-risk contacts being advised to self-isolate.”

It insisted that the app “continues to play a crucial role in breaking chains of transmission, preventing hospitalisations, and saving lives.” – READ MORE

Related Articles

(PREMIUM) PAINE IN THE MORNING: 13 things you need to know this Monday – January 10, 2022

  There is also an ad free audio version of this episode you can listen to HERE. The Supreme Court Seems Inclined To Block OSHA’s Vaccine Mandate – The Supreme Court today considered whether it should block enforcement of the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccination rule for private employers until the many legal challenges to that…

To access this post, you must purchase The Hot Wire, The Hot Wire (DG), Monthly Supporter​ or Monthly Supporter​ (DG).

(PREMIUM) PAINE IN THE MORNING: 11 things you need to know this Monday – January 3, 2022

  There is also an ad free audio version of this episode you can listen to HERE. Hospital ERs filled with symptom-less, COVID-positive people in one state – Emergency rooms in Vermont are being overwhelmed with people who have tested positive for COVID but have no symptoms, bolstering the criticism that mass testing amid a…

To access this post, you must purchase The Hot Wire, The Hot Wire (DG), Monthly Supporter​ or Monthly Supporter​ (DG).

Responses