The timetable for relaxing self-isolation “is not the perfect solution,” Kwarteng admits

A cabinet minister admitted that delaying the relaxation of self-isolation rules for coronavirus contacts until one month after other restrictions in England are lifted is “not a perfect solution.”

Minister of Commerce Kwasi Kwarteng insisted that the government must strike a balance between reopening the economy and curbing the spread of Covid-19, as ministers face strong opposition to these plans.

From August 16, people who have received two doses of the vaccine in England and people under the age of 18 will no longer need to self-isolate if they have been in contact with people who have tested positive for Covid-19.

However, it is expected that on July 19, step 4 of the roadmap will remove restrictions on businesses and social gatherings, which has raised concerns that the increase in cases may cause millions of people to be forced to spend 10 days at home.

The person in charge of the hotel said that the delay could lead to a shortage of personnel and warned that the current system has caused a “massage” and that unless the government speeds up its action, there is a risk that “summer will be cancelled and a large number of people will be unnecessarily confined at home”.