Who doesn’t have to isolate? Full updated list of ‘critical’ sector workers who could avoid self-isolation

The government has published a list of critical workers who no longer will need to self-isolate if they are ‘pinged’ by the Covid app, after several sectors warned of staff shortages caused by the ‘pingdemic’.

The scheme uses lateral flow tests to allow eligible workers who have been pinged by the app or called by NHS Test and Trace to continue working, provided they test negative each day.

Workers within these sectors will only be able to take part in the daily testing sceme once their bosses have successfuly applied to Whitehall.

It comes as Boris Johnson has said the UK is “not out of the woods” yet as the country expects to see a rise in case numbers given the move to Step 4 last week.

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At a glance: 5 key facts

- Now bin collectors, prison staff and those working in defence will be able to take daily tests rather than self-isolating

- It comes a week after No 10 announced people in the food industry, transport workers, Border Force staff, frontline police and fire services were able to take daily tests as part of a pilot scheme

- The government said people working in energy, pharmaceuticals, telecoms, chemicals, communications, water, space, fish, veterinary medicine and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will also now be prioritised

- The scale of the issue was shown by figures stating more than 600,000 people in England and Wales were told to quarantine by the NHS Covid app in the week to July 14

- Ministers have announced more Covid testing sites, which brings the total number to 2,000

What’s been said

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Whether it’s prison guards reporting for duty, waste collectors keeping our streets clean or workers in our energy sector keeping the lights on, critical workers have been there for us at every stage of this global pandemic.

“As we learn to live with the virus, we will keep doing everything in our power to break chains of transmission and stop this virus in its tracks.

“Daily contact testing will play a vital role in this, helping minimise the potential for disruption caused by rising cases, while keeping staff protected.”

Background

More key workers will be eligible for the scheme under the plans, with 1,200 new workplace sites introduced in a bid to avoid disruption to crucial services as cases soar.

The vast number of people self-isolating after being advised to by the NHS app has been fuelled by the high numbers of Covid infections that have swept the nation as the Delta variant thrived and restrictions were eased.

Ministers have so far resisted pressure from business leaders and some senior Conservative MPs to bring forward the wider relaxation of isolation rules for all fully-vaccinated people in England from August 16.