NO more groups will be exempt from NHS track & trace isolation & app WON’T be tweaked, says Zahawi

NO more groups of Brits will be exempt from self-isolating if they're pinged by the NHS track and trace app, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said today.

The app has sparked fury with thousands self-isolating after receiving alerts, wreaking havoc on businesses.

But the Covid self-isolation app will not be watered down despite fears it will cripple the economy as Freedom Day dawns.

And Mr Zahawi confirmed there will be no other exemptions from self-isolation apart from NHS and social care staff until August 16. 

Despite huge clamour from bosses and warnings of a staffing crisis - and food shortages - ministers aren't budging on the August 16 date for scrapping isolation for the fully-vaxxed.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said there "isn't any movement" on bringing forward the August 16 for double-jabbed people to swerve self isolation if they're pinged.

It comes as:

• The Covid “pingdemic” sparked fury as it hit pubs, factories, and airports
• Parents pulled kids out of school early to avoid being pinged
• M&S could be forced to reduce its hours over the pingdemic crisis
• Tony Blair warned that 10 million Brits will be isolating by August
• Boris Johnson is under mounting pressure to tackle the pingdemic.

The app has been blamed for the 'pingdemic' chaos, but an NHS spokesman said there are "no plans" to reduce its sensitivity.

It comes after Boris Johnson made a screeching u-turn after initially saying he didn't have to self-isolate after being 'pinged' when coming into contact with Covid-positive Health Secretary Sajid Javid.

Asked what could be done to change the app, Mr Zahawi told Sky News: "I think the important thing is that the clinical advice to people if you've come into contact with someone with Covid remains our priority through the app.

"And then of course, to make sure that we continue to review the quality of that detection radar system all the time.

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"The difference now so that we've got almost 88 per cent of people with one dose and 68 per cent of people with two doses, so we can take decisions like we've just done with NHS and social care staff.

"We can make decisions that on August 16 anyone who is double vaccinated doesn't need to then isolate if they are pinged and don't test positive for Covid."

Yesterday, the PM said he and Chancellor Rishi Sunak could skip self-isolation under a pilot scheme after coming into contact with Mr Javid.

But after a public outcry just hours later Mr Johnson said he would stay at Chequers and isolate - just like every Brit who has been 'pinged'.

Earlier this month, Mr Sunak had suggested the app's sensitivity could be altered to stop workers staying at home needlessly.

A whopping 520,194 alerts were sent to app users told to self-isolate in the week up to July 7 - a rise of 46 per cent rise on the previous seven days.

We can make decisions that on August 16 anyone who is double vaccinated doesn't need to then isolate if they are pinged and don't test positive for Covid

Nadhim Zahawi

Think-tank the Adam Smith Institute said nearly 1.7million could now be isolating.

Former PM Tony Blair warned it could soar to ten million by the peak of the third wave, thought to hit in early September.

Mr Zahawi also urged Brits to remain "vigilant" as restrictions on social distancing and mask wearing ended today.

But it was the government's "expectation and recommendation" that people continue wearing masks where necessary, he said.

He added: ";There is no perfect time to take this step. This is as good a time as any. I’m confident that we’re doing the right thing.

PINGDEMIC

"I will wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces. I will wear a mask if I’m on a train carriage that is crowded.

"We are asking organisations to take corporate responsibility. The supermarkets have come out around how they want their customers to behave.

"It’s right that we now move on from Government by diktat because we’re wanting to get our lives back, get back to normality, and get people to take personal responsibility but also corporate responsibility."

On Saturday, Mr Javid revealed he had returned a positive lateral flow and PCR test for Covid.

Mr Javid's list included Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak - who were contacted by NHS Test and Trace.

The PM and Chancellor initially said they would be skipping self-isolation – as the pilot scheme allows them to continue working from Downing Street while taking daily Covid tests. 

But in a video a short while later amid public fury, Me Johnson said it's "important to stick to the same rules" as he confirmed he was now quarantining.

A No.10 spokesman said: "The Prime Minister and Chancellor have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace as contacts of someone who has tested positive for Covid.

“They will be participating in the daily contact testing pilot to allow them to continue to work from Downing Street. 

“They will be conducting only essential government business during this period.”