Medical experts slam virus exemption policy
Senior medical experts say the Government’s staff isolation exemptions plans are ‘absolutely the wrong’ solution to control spiralling Covid infection rates.
The Government is allowing some double vaccinated staff in key industries not to have to self-isolate they get ‘pinged’ by the NHS phone app after being in close proximity to someone who tests poside for the virus.
The chair of the British Medical Association Council, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, says this policy will be ineffective.
He said: “The Government’s current public infection control strategy is not working, leading to more illness in the community, more people in hospital, and more people having to isolate. It is time for an urgent rethink.”
"Increasing numbers of health service staff are falling ill or self-isolating when they are most needed. Other key services are also struggling due to staff absences.”
He added: “The Government needs to wake up. This is not a problem about excessive pinging of the NHS app, but is a direct result of lack of effective measures by the Government that is allowing the virus to let rip throughout the nation.
"Now is not the right time to abandon legal restrictions such as social distancing and mask wearing. The Government has a public health duty to reconsider its current policies, and put in place mandatory measures to control the spread of this virus.
“Exempting healthcare staff from self-isolation to get them back to work is a desperate and potentially unsafe policy that does not address the root problem.
“People go to see healthcare professionals in order to get better, not to risk getting infected.”