• 

• 

• 

Even the fully vaccinated are being ordered home

Quite what ministers do about this one is hard to say but when one of the main mechanisms in controlling the virus is being deleted off their phones by users then there is a serious issue.

You can understand why because after a year and a half of controls large numbers are being confined to their homes because the app tells them that they should. This is affecting the hospitality and retail industry in a big way.

On a personal level I know of several people I have regular dealings with who have had to self isolate because they were pinged even though they have been double jabbed. This is all coming at a time where there is something of a staffing crisis that is undermining efforts to get the economy moving again.

The app became popular because it is so easy to record your presence in a venue rather than having to fill in a form but as we are seeing there is a price to pay.

What will the HealthSec do about this? We do know that from August 16 those who have been double jabbed, or are under 18, will not have to self-isolate if they come into contact with someone who has tested for positive. But that is a long time to wait. That date needs to be brought forward.

This all impacts on public perceptions of how well the government is managing the crisis.

Mike Smithson

UPDATE: These are the markeThis market relates to whether the UK government re-introduces any legally enforceable restrictions on social contact in England related to the spread of coronavirus, following the legal end of restrictions on social contact (currently expected to take place on 19 July 2021). Examples may include, but are not limited to, the mandatory wearing of face masks on public transport or the closure of pubs/nightclubs. For the purposes of this market, restrictions will not include any regulations on international travel or any regulations related to self-isolation or quarantine. For the purposes of this market, ‘re-introduce’ does not require any restrictions to exactly replicate previous restrictions. If the UK government does not end restrictions on social contact in 2021, and thus could not ‘re-introduce’ restrictions, this market will be void. Dates in this market relate to when any restrictions come into force in England, rather than the date on which they are announced. All times and dates in this market are in UK time. Clarification (14 July 2021): This market refers to mandatory England-wide measures introduced by the UK government. Any measures that are introduced locally or by individual companies (e.g. Transport for London only) will not count towards the settlement of this market. Clarification (6 September 2021): If ‘vaccination passports’ are required for entry to nightclubs or other events, this market will be settled for yes, so long as the measure satisfies the other conditions in the market rules, i.e. that it is mandatory, implemented by the UK government, England-wide and legally enforceable. Clarification (12 October 2021): If vaccines become mandatory for people working in care homes at any point in 2021 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vaccination-of-people-working-or-deployed-in-care-homes-operational-guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-of-people-working-or-deployed-in-care-homes-operational-guidance) this market will be settled for yes, so long as the measure satisfies the other conditions in the market rules, i.e. that it is mandatory, implemented by the UK government, England-wide and legally enforceable.