Common sense approach is vital on self-isolation

THE Government has been praised many times by this newspaper for the remarkable vaccine rollout which has, according to ministers, severed the link between Covid hospitalisation and death.

But this once again begs the question: When is the Government going to finally trust the vaccine?

It seems astonishing that 500,000 people in one week have been told to stay at home because they have been “pinged” by the Covid app.

To be clear, these are not people who have necessarily got the disease but merely those who may have been exposed to somebody who has and most of these people will be stuck at home despite having negative tests.

As we have outlined in today’s newspaper this is having a dramatic effect on workplaces and productivity at a time when we should be getting ready to start the economic bounce back. We need to get this country out of the mire of debt built up dealing with this pandemic over the last 16 months.

Many will be delighted that freedom day will be happening on Monday. The entirety of the vulnerable adults who wish to have the vaccine have now had it while two thirds of all adults in this country have had two jabs. But it seems utterly illogical that double vaccinated people and those who have immunity are now being ordered to stay at home.

The Prime Minister rightly talked about common sense returning and self responsibility. It is time to start putting that into practice and end the need to stay at home unless somebody has a positive test.