Keir Starmer calls for clarity over which businesses can get self-isolation exemption
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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for clarity over which businesses can get an exemption to the government’s self-isolation rules.
Downing Street yesterday said some businesses in vital industries can apply to have their staff exempt from self-isolating when pinged by the NHS Track and Trace app.
It comes as more than 1m people are supposed to be self-isolating, after being pinged by the the app as cases surge.
A swathe of retail giants have come out to say the current situation is leading to labour shortages and will cripple supply chains.
Starmer said in Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) that Boris Johnson was making up policy over test and trace “on the hoof” and called for clear guidance over which businesses will be exempt from the so-called pingdemic.
Johnson replied: “He attacks the self-isolation system, but as far as I understand he now opposes going forward with step 4. He wants to keep this country, as far as I understand, in lockdown.”
Starmer has called for the work from home advice to remain, however he has not opposed the reopening of mass events or the scrapping of social distancing restrictions.
Johnson’s spokesman said yesterday that exemptions to the self-isolation rule would be on “a business by business need”, but that “there are some limited sectors, like nuclear for example, when it will be for the broader sector”.
There is currently no timeline for these exemptions to be introduced.
“Most of the critical public businesses are already in discussion with a regular basis from the relevant department…we expect thoses discussion to continue,” the spokesman said.
“Departments are contactable for anyone that’s unsure.”