Michael O'Leary | Ryanair boss attacks NHS app after 'pingdemic'; should workers have to isolate?

Since the majority of COVID-19 restrictions were lifted on 19 July, leaving just the instruction to isolate if told to do so by the NHS smartphone app, the buzzword of the moment has been ‘pingdemic’ – otherwise known as the steep rise in self-isolation orders for those who have potentially come into contact with a carrier of the coronavirus.

Numbers are currently skyrocketing for the volume of ‘pings’ sent to those who have the app currently downloaded – recent ONS Data shows that, this week alone, 618,903 alerts were sent - a 17% rise from the previous week.

And whilst the app is crafted to limit the spread of the virus, a by-product of its usage is currently a severe staff shortage across several industries including dining, retail and warehouse packing/ shipping.

‘Pingdemic’ disrupting business