Disruption to food supply chains, rail timetables and rubbish collection have been caused by the large number of workers being pinged by the NHS Covid-19 appOnly one in 20 dedicated Covid test sites have been opened under plans to allow food distribution workers to avoid isolation, amid warnings that the “pingdemic” will worsen shortages in supermarkets. About 25 of 500 testing units being established at depots and distribution centres to maintain the supply of food to shops will be set up by today, The Times understands. The full 500 are expected to be open within a week. Critical workers will be able to avoid self-isolating on contact with a positive case if they take daily tests. SponsoredRichard Burnett, head of the Road Haulage Association, has said the supermarket supply chain could face “collapse” in early August without urgent government action

Source: The Times July 25, 2021 23:01 UTC