Covid: Relief as isolation relaxation rules could mean end to pingdemic-hit hospitality businesses

• Video report by ITV Granada Reports correspondent Mel Barham

Business owners say they are feeling a sense of relief after changes came into force which will see thousands able to avoid isolation.

The move - which could bring an end to the so-called pingdemic - means people who have had both doses of a Covid vaccine, or those under 18, will no longer have to quarantine if they are in close contact with a positive case.

They will now be advised to take a PCR test as soon as possible.

At its peak in July, 59,000 people were pinged in the North West and told to isolate, closing many businesses while shoppers were urged not to panic buy as supermarket shelves emptied.

Chef Paul Askew had to close his Art School Restaurant in Liverpool on one of the busiest weekends of the year - Father's Day - after too many of his staff were told to isolate.

It is a welcome taste of freedom for the hospitality industry, who Paul says were unable to recoup money they lost during the pandemic because of staffing shortages.

He says: "At the height of the pingdemic we had all the opportunity and still had huge demand for bookings in the restaurant, so we’ve got a fantastic recovery potential, but of course, we weren’t able to look after everybody and get the business back up to full strength in terms of its capabilities because you just didn’t know which staff were able to come in.

"We were operating sometimes you know 50% or 60% and on one weekend in particular we had to close completely losing thousands of pounds worth of revenue when we’ve just come back after the 16 months that we’ve all had.

"That was a very, very difficult moment financially but also in terms of the staff welfare and the customers."

He added that it was tough being unable to "take advantage of this enormous opportunity to get our cashflow going and get our recovery going again".

On the streets of Liverpool there are mixed views about the new rules:

But despite relief from many, industry leaders say it is unlikely the pingdemic problem will be solved immediately - with younger, unvaccinated, staff still at risk of being pinged.

Dr Jonathan Owens, from the University of Salford Business School, said: "Restaurants and shops, and those sort of things, they've the ones employing low age groups, they're the ones that are on one vaccination they will still have to isolate when get pinged.

"Industries and shops are still going to struggle with that, it's only going to be the higher end, the people who actually have the double vaccinations, who will actually be more free."

What are the news rules around isolation in England?

• Those coming into contact with someone with Covid-19 will not have to isolate if: they are under 18 or they had their second vaccination at least 14 days ago.

• They are advised to take a PCR test as soon as possible - but will not have to self isolate while waiting for the result.

• A positive PCR test means they will have to isolate - regardless of their age or vaccination status.

• The change in rules will not impact the traffic light system for international travel.

• Red list arrivals will still be subject to ten days hotel quarantine.

• Amber list arrivals will still need a PCR test within two days of arriving back in England.

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