NOTHS staff may soon be exempt from self-isolation and Covid certificates introduced for hospitality in the fall to avoid a common health crisis and a fourth pandemic wave.

Downing Street said on Friday that before the Stage 4 restrictions were lifted, due on July 19, officials were examining whether NHS staff could be released from the requirement to self-isolate if they were ‘pinged’ by the Covid application.

It comes as The Telegraph reported that double-vaccinated NHS staff could be released from self-isolation rules by August 16 under proposals being considered by Sajid Javid.

Under current plans, those who are fully vaccinated will be able to forgo self-isolation even if the app detects that they have been in contact with someone who tested positive after August 16.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, president of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said she was “delighted to see that the evidence has been reviewed and that this is moving forward, “adding:” This seems like a sensible next step. “

She said the number of health workers who have to take time off after being “pinged” by the app, especially those whose children have been kicked out of school, “means the rest of the staff are suffering a hardship. increasing pressure ”.

She added: “We are seeing hospitals cancel operations, downsizing, we are seeing general surgeries starting to cut back on the more routine services they were providing.”