UK businesses call for early end to self-isolation rules
The government should bring forward planned changes to Covid self-isolation rules to help restore confidence, UK businesses have urged.
In a six-point plan published last night, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said moving the changes forward would help ease staff shortages and ensure reopening was a “confident not an anxious” process.
It added that further work was needed to create a test and release system and called for continued government funding of workplace testing.
The majority of Covid restrictions are due to end on 19 July, but self-isolation rules are not expected to be eased until 16 August.
The CBI said the isolation rules should be brought forward to align with the easing of restrictions next week.
It comes as businesses battle staff shortages as a result of the pandemic. These have grown in recent weeks due to an increasing number of people being told to self-isolate by Test and Trace.
The government is set to tweak the app to ensure that fewer people are “pinged” due to contact with people who have tested positive for Covid.
The CBI also called for the government to keep mask wearing under review to help restore confidence.
“Learning to live and work with the virus is the right strategy. But we need to ensure this is a confident not an anxious transition, otherwise it won’t work,” said CBI director general Tony Danker.
“Businesses have had a real boost this week with the Prime Minister’s plans for the final stage of the reopening. What’s needed now is a concerted effort between business and government to create widespread confidence from the get go.”