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Chronicle Live
National
Kali Lindsay

Washington Old Hall closed as staff and volunteers told to self-isolate

A historic manor house linked to George Washington has been forced to close as staff and volunteers are self-isolating.

Washington Old Hall, which is the ancestral home of the first USA President, will be shut to visitors this weekend.

The venue is normally open between Friday and Monday, with various activities planned during the summer holidays.

Read more: Covid infections falling everywhere in the North East - see by just how much in your area

A spokesman for the National Trust, which runs the attraction, said: “We will be closed from Friday 23 July - Monday 26 July due to staff and volunteers self-isolating.

"Visitors with pre-booked tickets will be contacted, so if you have booked, you don't need to do anything, we will be in touch.

"We look forward to welcoming you back soon.”

It comes after ministers were warned North East businesses face a desperate shortage of staff because so many have been told to isolate.

South Shields MP Emma Lewell-Buck, speaking in the House of Commons, said the so-called pingdemic "is making our country grind to a halt".

A record 618,903 alerts were sent to users of the NHS Covid-19 app in England and Wales in the week to July 14, telling them they had been in close contact with someone who had tested positive for coronavirus, NHS figures show.

Rules change on August 16 so that those who are contacted can take a test instead of self-isolating, if they have been vaccinated twice.

But for now, anyone contacted by test and trace must stay at home by law. People contacted only by the app are advised to stay at home, though this is not actually a legal requirement.

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