Up to 20 per cent of staff absent from companies after being ‘pinged’ by Covid app

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Companies are missing up to 20 per cent of staff who have been forced into self-isolation after being “pinged” by the NHS Covid app, business groups have warned. “The government must revisit the August date as an immediate priority as the situation is likely to get far worse with the lifting of restrictions next week.” Richard Walker, managing director of Iceland Foods, said social-distancing restrictions ending before self-isolation rules are eased will “be a s*** show for business”. “We have one in five hospitality staff in isolation, and we have particular concerns as around 60 per cent of our staff are under 30,” she told the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy committee. “For many of our small businesses, if you lose one or two of your workers you don’t have enough people to open at all, and obviously that has huge ramifications.” Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said there was a similar proportion of shop worker absences due to isolation rules.