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UKHospitality (UKH) is urging the government to immediately review and amend its test and trace guidelines regarding self-isolation.
The trade association revealed that the current guidelines are “massively disruptive” for businesses in the sector, which has led to venue closures and reduced operating hours.
Furthermore, UKH warned of the damage that any similar approach would have on wider society, triggering mass isolations.
Kate Nicholls, the body’s chief executive, said: “For some weeks we have been telling government about the severe staff shortages at venues, compounded massively by the absence of staff members who have been told to isolate despite not having shared shifts with colleagues who tested positive.
“We need urgent clarification of isolation policy to reflect the enormous success of the vaccine roll out and we urge the cabinet office to amend the current isolation policy as soon as possible, and certainly ahead of the 19 July, to address the challenges of the current system.”
She added: “A sensible and pragmatic approach would be to extend the ‘test to remain’ system for vaccinated staff to hospitality.
“That would avoid businesses being forced to close, losing thousands of pounds of revenue at a time when cash reserves are low or non-existent following 16 months of closure and punitive trading restrictions.”
