29 Jul 2021 --- The British Plastics Federation (BPF) has published a members survey revealing 60 percent of plastics companies have staff absent due to being “pinged” by the NHS COVID-19 app, with an average of 7 percent of staff being requested to isolate. The app uses Bluetooth to determine whether a person’s smartphone has been within 2 meters of somebody who has recently tested positive for COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes. “Pinged” people are advised but not legally obliged to self-isolate for up to 10 days.The flash survey also found that 71 percent of companies had people off work because they are self-isolating (possibly due to being “pinged”), cannot get to work due to a lack of travel services, are caring for others who are isolating, or have contracted the virus. Taking all these factors into account, companies reported an average of 8 percent of staff off work.
