A government minister has suggested that people don't have to automatically self-isolate if they are "pinged" by the NHS Covid app but should instead make an "informed decision" about what to do.
Business minister Paul Scully said self-isolating after being told to by the app was a decision for individuals and employers.
Although it has never been a legal requirement to obey the app's instructions, the official NHS guidance has been that people should "self-isolate immediately" when told to.
READ MORE: NHS staff to be allowed to avoid self-isolation in 'exceptional circumstances'
Mr Scully told Times Radio: "It's important to understand the rules. You have to legally isolate if you are contacted by Test and Trace, or if you're trying to claim isolation payments.
"The app is there to give... to allow you to make informed decisions. And I think by backing out of mandating a lot of things, we're encouraging people to really get the data in their own hands to be able to make decisions on what's best for them, whether they're employer or an employee."
Asked whether this meant people should or should not self-isolate if "pinged", he said: "We want to encourage people to still use the app to be able to do the right thing, because we estimate it saves around 8,000 lives."
However, he added that it was "up to individuals and employers".
But Professor John Edmunds, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies which advises ministers said: "Contact tracing and self-isolation play an important role in stopping cases getting out of control and preventing deaths.
"It's important we maintain these measures as stringently as we can.
"We have one of the highest rates of cases in the world right now.
"The NHS has been under strain for a long time and they are busy trying to catch up on operations and are very, very busy.
"So to put them under more pressure now is going to be awkward."
