Testing to Replace Self-Isolation for Some ‘Pinged’ Food Supply Chain Workers

Empty shelves and signs on the soft drinks aisle of a Sainsbury's store in Rowley Regis in the West Midlands, England, on July 22, 2021. Matthew Cooper/PA via AP

The UK government has extended the exemption from self-isolation to around 10,000 “critical” workers amid scenes of empty supermarket shelves, fears of panic-buying, and disruption of public transport.

The scheme will run until Aug. 16, when all double-jabbed people can use negative tests to avoid self-isolation, but pressure is mounting on the government to bring forward the date.