Industry calls for end to isolation for fully vaccinated as production begins to stop
25 Jul 2021
Britain’s manufacturers are calling for the August 16 date to mark an end to self-isolation for those fully vaccinated to be brought forward on the back of “clear evidence” of the impact of ‘pinging’ on the sector.
This followed publication of a survey showing two thirds of companies back the call in response to the widespread impact of an increasing number of staff who are having to isolate. To date, 13% of companies say it has halted some production.
The survey of 436 companies also showed companies continuing to emphasise the safety of their staff.
More than two thirds of companies (67%) say they had not removed any restrictions and had no plans to do so. Almost a fifth of companies (19%) have removed some restrictions, while just 2% have removed all.
Make UK chief executive Stephen Phipson said:
“While we remain in a public health emergency the rules are clear in that anyone who is pinged should isolate. As such, employers should continue to act responsibly as they have since the start of the crisis and encourage their employees to follow the rules as they stand.
“However, the impact on manufacturing continues to rapidly increase and there remains an inconsistency of Government policy that allows non-vaccinated people in nightclubs while those who have had both jabs are asked to isolate. We would urge Government to address this by bringing forward the planned August date in order to keep the economy open.”
More than three quarters of companies responding (77%) said that NHS track and trace was having an impact on their business with the same proportion having seen this increase in the last two weeks.
Half the companies (56%) said up to 5% of their staff were having to isolate with more than a fifth (22%) saying up to one in 10 were having to isolate.
The survey also showed that the overwhelming majority of companies (97%) back free lateral flow tests for employers and statutory sick pay from day one for employees isolating and/or with Covid symptoms.
