Half of Britons – including 18-24 year olds – are avoiding social contact to avoid risk of getting ‘pinged’ and 10 percent delete NHS app as job vacancies hit 1.1 million
- YouGov polling found almost half of Britons have cut back on their socialising
- Comes amid fear of getting ‘pinged’ and forced to isolate ahead of rule change
- Some 7 per cent have even avoided getting a Covid test for risk of self-isolation
- Almost 700,000 people were ‘pinged’ last week over close contact some someone who had tested positive for coronavirus
Almost half of Britons have cut back on their socialising over fears they could fall victim to the ‘pingdemic’, a survey has found.
Some 46 per cent of people said they reduced their contact with others because of the risk of being ‘pinged’ by the NHS’ Covid app and being forced into self-isolation.
The YouGov poll for The Times also found that 39 per cent had not reduced their contact.
The figures show that the government’s self-isolation policy for people coming into contact with anyone who has tested positive for coronavirus is having the ‘designed’ effect of minimising the spread of the virus.
The policy has been incredibly disruptive, with almost 700,000 people being ‘pinged’ in the last week alone. Current rules mean they will all have to self-isolate for 10 days even with a negative test.
A YouGov poll found 46 per cent of people said they had reduced their contact with others because of the risk of being ‘pinged’ by the NHS’ Covid app and being forced into self-isolation
However, from August 16 those who are double-vaccinated will not have to stay at home. Boris Johnson confirmed the change last week, saying it was ‘nailed on’.
The survey of 1,722 people, conducted on July 29 and 30, also suggested the vast majority were sticking to rules, although 10 per cent said they had deleted the NHS Covid app from their phones and 13 per cent had turned off contact tracing.
Some 7 per cent of people said they had even avoided taking a Covid test because of the rules which say the 10-day period starts again if you test positive.
YouGov has separately found that the half of Britons also still avoid crowded spaces (down from 80 per cent in April 2020) and over 70 per cent still wear masks in public, a figure that has barely moved since the start of the pandemic.
Almost 700,000 people being ‘pinged’ in the last week alone after coming into close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus
A government spokeswoman told the publication: ‘The self-isolation rules are doing exactly what they are designed to do — minimising the contacts of people who have been exposed to Covid-19, so we can protect the population while we continue to roll out the vaccine.
‘By sticking to the rules, the public are playing a vital role in reducing the spread of the virus and preventing cases from becoming outbreaks.
‘This enables the NHS to vaccinate as many people as possible ahead of August 16th, and we continue to encourage everyone to come forward to get their jab.’
Business leaders have however urged Boris Johnson to end self-isolation rules as soon as possible the avoid crippling businesses and other vital services because of staff absence.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said one in ten hospitality businesses in Britain had to close over the last month because the ‘pingdemic’ had had a major impact on staffing levels.
She added that one in five firms have had to ‘significantly adjust their offer or services’ to cope with the pandemic as their revenues plunged.
YouGov has separately found that the half of Britons also still avoid crowded spaces (down from 80 per cent in April 2020) and over 70 per cent still wear masks in public, a figure that has barely moved since the start of the pandemic
The Government rolled out exemptions for workers it deems to be employed in critical industries, such as those in the food sector, transport and waste collection.
Tony Danker, head of the Confederation of British Industry, demanded a change in the government’s timetable for freeing double-jabbed workers, urging the PM to shift from ‘mass isolation’ to ‘mass testing’.
He told the Telegraph: ‘There is a high degree of confusion about how the Government’s going to approach September reentry, in a world where one, people are coming back from holidays from different parts of the world; two, people are going back to school; three, most employers are implementing the beginning of their new hybrid or back-to-work strategy; and four, we’re told there might be another wave.
‘We think August needs to be a time where we genuinely bang heads together and talk about an integrated plan and a philosophy for managing the next six to 12 months.’
Separately, a new report has warned more than 1.1 million jobs remain unfilled as the pingdemic crisis worsens the shortage of workers.
There are almost 31,000 retail vacancies, up by 14 per cent in the last month, 10,000 in supermarkets, 77,000 in hospitality and catering, 90,000 in trade and construction, and 84,000 in logistics and warehousing, it said.
The backlash over the continuing ‘pingdemic’ comes as Covid cases fell for the eleventh day in a row with a further 24,470 recorded in the UK yesterday.
Last Sunday saw 29,173 cases recorded, meaning today’s figures represent a fall of 16% from the July 25 figure.
The most recent data for vaccinations, which goes up to July 31, shows 88.6 per cent of the adult population have had one dose of the Covid jab, while 72.5% have had two.
Sajid Javid, the health secretary, described it as ‘a phenomenal achievement’ and thanked the NHS, armed forces officials and volunteers for their ‘tireless efforts’ in getting the country to this point.
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