UK Hospitality Sector Could Face Severe Crisis Due to Forced Staff Isolations

Experts Warn of Severe Crisis In UK As Hotel Staff Are Forced to Isolate

The hospitality industry of UK , which is still reeling from the effects of 2020 lockdown restrictions, could be heading for another major crisis if timely and appropriate action is not taken. Industry experts warn of a looming crisis due to the recent surge of Covid infections that have led to whole teams of workers being sent home for isolation after receiving notifications from the NHS app.

Business owners are calling on ministers to urgently approve’test and release’ scheme so that they can continue to operate and be able to serve customers. Businesses are reeling under pressure as the staff have to stay home for 10 days if any one worker tests positive. This is creating immense worker shortage for various businesses who are unable to manage their operations and cater to the customers.

The daily tally of infections has gone beyond 25,000 cases on June 30. Some workable solution has to be adopted soon in order to prevent the hospitality industry of the UK from receding into severe crisis. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality has assured that the trade body is in talks with the government from the past two weeks.

Kate has said that she has being contacted by lots of businesses who have received blanket notifications for isolation of entire teams, which means that businesses are left with no other option but to close down fully for 10 days. Even while other members of the team are not Covid positive the businesses are being compelled to close down due to isolation of entire team.

Kate has said that we urgently need a change in policy and need a sensible and pragmatic approach to solve this problem. If the issue is not addressed urgently it could lead to an unprecended labour crisis for many businesses.

The businessmen are deeply frustrated because of the working of the NHS app, which automatically notifies people who have come in contact with someone who has recently tested positive. The current NHS test and trace system issues to everyone registered as working at that venue where someone tested positive, regardless of whether that person was in the same shift, same venue and regardless of their vaccination status.