Executive Must Act on ‘Pingdemic’ - Retail NI

Its call comes after Retail NI members reported widespread staff shortages putting huge pressure on their stores remaining open following workers getting ‘pinged’ via the app.

Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts, said: “This situation is getting serious, and we need the Executive to act before shops, the supply chain and our wider economy face widespread disruption with staff shortages. Independent retailers are struggling in particular given they have a smaller staff teams. At the very least we need the Executive to bring Northern Ireland into line with the English date of 16th August, which allows ‘pinged’ double vaccinated workers to take a PCR test rather than self-isolation for 10 days.

“Retail NI is also disappointed that the roll out of public hand sanitiser units in our town centres and high streets has been virtually non-existent outside of Belfast City Centre. This needs to happen if we want to reduce transmission of the virus and provide confidence to shoppers.”