West End, schools, pubs... pingdemic is rife everywhere
THE pingdemic has had a significant impact on everyday life, hitting industry, entertainment, schools, travel and health services.
HOSPITALITY
Huge numbers of pubs and restaurants are shut across the country as staff have to isolate after being pinged.
Out of the UK’s hospitality workforce of 1.9million, it is estimated 380,000 – one in five – are currently isolating with the figure expected to soar to 670,000 – one in three – later in the summer. Big name chains like Nando’s are closing some of restaurants or switching to takeaway.
The nation’s largest pub company, Stonegate, said 1,000 staff are off and 15 sites are closed. Pub group Mitchells & Butlers, which O’Neill’s and Harvester, has closed 40 properties temporarily while Greene King has shut 33. Rival pub chain Young’s reported 350 staff were isolating last week.
Other affected businesses include London’s Ritz Hotel, cafe and bar chain Loungers and St Austell Brewery in Cornwall, Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge has closed his Michelin-starred pub The Coach in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, temporarily.
Kate Nicholls, of UK Hospitality, said: We need a rapid and urgent overhaul of the self-isolation policy to make it fit for purpose.’
MANUFACTURING
The supply chain to leading manufacturers is teetering on the brink of collapse with a shortage of nearly 100,000 drivers who deliver equipment and parts to factories.
The giant Nissan car base in Sunderland has reported staff shortages and the Vauxhall van factory in Luton has slashed shifts. Mike Hawes, of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: ‘Staff shortages are putting production at risk and undermining the sector’s recovery. Urgent action is needed.’
ENTERTAINMENT
Theatre impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber has said the industry is ‘on its knees’ due to isolation rules. He was speaking after the opening two nights of his new show Cinderella, starring Carrie Hope Fletcher (pictured), were cancelled because some cast and crew members were told to isolate. He insisted the current system is ‘completely, completely untenable’. Other shows in London’s West End and elsewhere in the country have also been forced to cancel performances.
PETROL
Drivers are facing empty petrol pumps in many areas as deliveries are scaled back. Petrol giant BP said: ‘We are experiencing fuel availability issues at some of our retail sites in the UK. This is due to the industry-wide driver shortages across the UK, which have been exacerbated by necessary Covid-19 isolations amongst staff, impacting our supply chain.’
SCHOOLS
More than one million pupils were off school last week due to Covid rules. Many secondary and primary schools shut early for the summer because of mass absences. Some pupils had to isolate because just one member of their classroom ‘bubble’ tested positive. This has triggered a knockon effect for working parents while youngsters have been robbed endof-term events such as presentations, sports days or prom parties. Geoff Barton, of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the figures ‘bring a year of unprecedented educational disruption to a grim end’.
POST
Major Royal Mail centres in Plymouth, Swindon and Manchester failed to process letters and parcels as expected this week and other parts of the UK are being hit.
The firm said: ‘Due to resourcing issues, associated self-isolation and safety measures, deliveries in some areas may be disrupted.’ It stressed that some mail centres had been affected by ‘very high levels of absence’.
TRAVEL
Passengers on West Midlands Railway services into Birmingham suffered cancellations because of isolating train drivers.
Transport for Wales was hit by a string of rail cancellations this week and there were similar problems in Yorkshire and some London Tube services over the weekend. Bus services in many areas have also been disrupted. UK airports are worried that they will not be able to cope with a summer surge in travellers.
HEALTH
Patients are suffering stress and pain with the cancellation of services.
One woman, who was waiting to give birth at Watford General Hospital in Hertfordshire, was told the centre had been shut for more than a week because ‘30 members of staff have been pinged and told to self-isolate’.
She said: ‘It’s just mayhem... they’ve got to get the NHS staff back quickly and stop all this ridiculous pinging stuff.’