PMQ: Boris Johnson apologizes to businesses for ‘pingemia’ after more than half a million people were asked to self-isolate | UK News

Boris Johnson has apologized to companies affected by a growing number of staff needing to self-isolate due to close contact with a positive coronavirus case.

Speaking during the last PMQs before the summer holidays, the Prime Minister – isolates himself at Checkers after coming into contact with COVID-positive Health Secretary Sajid Javid – said “everyone understands the inconvenience of being nuts”.

He added: “I apologize to all those who are in business up and down the country in all kinds of services – public sector or otherwise – who suffer inconvenience.

“We will move, as the House knows, to a system based on contact testing rather than contact isolation – but until then I just have to remind everyone that isolation is an essential tool. of our defense against disease. “

His comments came as Labor Party leader Sir Keir Starmer asked the Prime Minister if anyone who is ‘screwed’ by the NHS COVID-19 app should isolate themselves following mixed messages from government ministers .

“When it comes to confusing the Prime Minister is a great broadcaster,” Starmer noted.

He added: “With half a million people self-isolating, I think we were all a little surprised that the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the Cabinet Minister were all chosen at random for a card. output without isolation. “

After it was revealed that Mr Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak had been identified as close contacts of Mr Javid, the government announced the couple will participate in a pilot program which sees isolation replaced by daily testing .

But there was a quick U-turn following a backlash, Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak are now isolated.

Mr Starmer also highlighted the confusion over the isolation exemption list – which has yet to be released by the government – and said the government was “everything …