Pingdemic chaos: how bad could it get?

Keir Starmer has warned of a “summer of chaos” as an increasing number of businesses are forced to close and supermarket shelves are stripped bare as a result of mass Covid-19 self-isolation.

The Labour leader made the dire prediction yesterday during Prime Minister’s Questions as he squared up against Boris Johnson, who appeared via a video link from quarantine in his country retreat, Chequers.

As ITV News notes, “three of the UK’s most senior politicians are in self-isolation”, with Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Chancellor Rishi Sunak also stuck at home.

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And “ironically”, minutes after sparring with Johnson in the Commons, Starmer was told to isolate too, after one of his children tested positive for the coronavirus, the broadcaster continues.

With a total of more than 328,000 new infections recorded in the past week, the surge in people being told to self-isolate looks set to continue.

An estimated 1.7 million Britons “are thought to be in quarantine, either through being pinged by the NHS Covid app or contacted by Test and Trace officials”, says the Daily Mail.

The so-called “pingdemic” is being blamed for shortages of some products in supermarkets, with pictures posted on social media showing empty shelves.

Supermarket bosses are urging shoppers “not to panic buy as bottled water, bread, meat and frozen food runs low”, the paper reports. But Iceland chief Richard Walker “has warned that Britain's creaking food supply chains are on the brink of collapse”, with 1,000 of his staff - almost one in 20 - in isolation.

However, Walker has also insisted that “there is absolutely no need to panic buy”, adding: “The people who should be panicking are the government.”

The isolation “shutdown” is replacing lockdown as pings also hit retail, tourism, transport manufacturing, the NHS and police forces, says the i news site. NHS England data seen by the site reportedly shows that “by the start of July, almost 14,000 staff were self-isolating or sick from Covid - a figure that will have increased substantially since”.

Two major rail networks, Southern and Thameslink, have announced plans to operate a reduced timetable from next week, while some BP petrol stations are experiencing fuel supplies owing to lorry driver shortages. The Road Haulage Association estimates that the country is short of around 100,000 HGV drivers.

And many local authorities are having to delay waste collections or close recycling centres.

Even engaged couples are being told to call off their big days after being pinged on the night before their weddings. The prime minister’s official spokesperson acknowledged that this “would be a difficult situation for anyone”. But “one in three people contacted either by Test and Trace or the app go on to develop coronavirus”, the spokesperson said, which “demonstrates the importance of isolating people when asked to do so”.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News this morning that the current situation “is not going to last forever” but that the country would have to follow the rules until 16 August. From this date, people who have had their second Covid vaccine, and waited for the two-week period that it takes for the body to build immunity against the virus, will be allowed to bypass isolation even if they come into contact with somebody who tests positive. Under-18s will also be exempt.

However, Kwarteng added that there was “no guarantee” that the rule change would go ahead, with the final decision due to be taken a week before.

Earlier this week, Johnson said that a “small number” of double-vaccinated critical workers could soon be exempt from isolating, but ministers are yet to clarify who this would include.

The government was also accused of sending mixed messages after Downing Street contradicted two junior ministers who suggested that it was “up to individuals and employers” whether they decide to isolate after being pinged by the Test and Trace app.

“Being pinged by the app means you should isolate for ten days - but unlike being contacted by Test and Trace, it is guidance rather than legally mandated,” explains Sky News. However, a No. 10 spokesperson said it was “crucial” to quarantine when asked.