Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to Surrey Police HQ in Guildford
(Picture: PA Wire)Boris Johnson has begged everyone to “stick with the programme” but he acknowledged there have been frustrations with the self-isolation system.
More than 600,000 people using the NHS Covid-19 app in England and Wales were sent alerts in the week between July 8 and 15 causing widespread staff shortages.
However, some fully-vaccinated key workers have been made exempt from self-isolating if they are pinged by the app about being in close contact with a positive coronavirus case.
The Prime Minister said: “I think everybody understands that this is still a very dangerous disease. We do need to use the tools that we have. Self-isolation is the one that we’ve got. I urge people to do it.”
The new test-to-release system will be put in place on August 16.
He added: “Until then please can everybody stick with the programme.”
Some ministers have argued more needs to be done and plans should be pushed forward instead of waiting until August 16 when isolation for all fully-vaccinated people who are pinged is due to be scrapped.
Mr Johnson also took the opportunity to ask young people to keep getting vaccinated as it would “help us all move forward”.
The Prime Minister swerved a question on whether students need to be fully vaccinated to attend lectures.
Instead, he answered: “I think that the young people of this country are doing an incredible job of coming forward to get vaccinations.
“The figures are outstanding.”
It comes after reports university students may need to be fully vaccinated to attend lectures or stay in halls of residence.
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