COVID-19: Boris Johnson under growing pressure to allow fully vaccinated close contacts to be exempt from isolation - Sky News

Boris Johnson is facing growing pressure to allow fully vaccinated people who have been identified as close contacts of coronavirus cases to be exempt from isolation.

They warned that the app is exacerbating staff shortages for pubs, bars and restaurants.

The government has announced that a phased approach to testing will soon see some "critical workers" being exempt from quarantine as long as they use daily lateral flow tests and the results are negative.

But the mayor and business leaders said daily PCR tests should be used instead.

It comes as pub and restaurant bosses warned of a "summer of venue closures" unless hospitality workers are exempt from quarantine rules as cases continue to increase.

British Frozen Food Federation chief executive Richard Harrow said: "It shows that yet again government does not understand how connected the food supply chain is.

From 16 August, all of those double vaccinated will be exempt from self-isolation if identified as a close contact, the government has said.

The PM himself is currently isolating at Chequers, having been identified as a close contact of newly-appointed Health Secretary Sajid Javid who tested positive for coronavirus

On Thursday evening, the government published a list of 16 sectors where double-jabbed workers will be eligible to avoid isolation if they undergo daily lateral flow testing and their results are negative