Coronavirus latest:THE PINGDEMIC self-isolation rules that are crippling Britain WILL be scrapped on August 16, a Cabinet minister vowed today.
Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng pledged the middle of next month will see the "final date" when remaining restrictions are binned.
He said: "I fully expect that the restrictions will be lifted, that is what we are working towards."
Pressed on whether there would be no more mandatory self-isolation after then, he replied: "That's exactly right.
"August 16 is the final date, the date where the final restrictions will be lifted."
His remarks came on another day of Government chaos over the latest Covid rules.
Mr Kwarteng began the morning by warning there was "no guarantee" that the changes would go ahead on August 16.
And he even said they would have to be subject to a review of the data a week before, casting the entire plan into doubt.
But within an hour he had been forced to U-turn and provide the cast iron guarantee the curbs will be dropped next month.
It has also emerged there won't be any review point for the changes.
The shambles comes amid fears supermarkets will face big food shortages within 48 hours because of the huge numbers of workers self-isolating.
Mr Kwarteng said shoppers "shouldn't be panicking" and the Government is "not looking at bringing in troops” to secure food supplies.
He said a list of key workers who will be exempt from the quarantine rules is being drawn up by No 10.
The business sec initially couldn't say when it would be published, before later insisting the document will arrive today.
But he then warned the scope of the exemptions will be "very narrow".
He admitted to being "very concerned about the situation" in shops but insisted Brits will have to stick to the rules for several more weeks.
The business secretary slapped down claims by his deputy Paul Scully that people could make an "informed choice" not to isolate if pinged by the app.
He said: "It's not a personal choice. If you're pinged you should self-isolate.
"We've got to focus on following the rules and the rules are simple. I'm not going to countenance people breaking the rules or anything like that."
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Crippling self-isolation rules WILL be scrapped on August 16 as minister pledges ‘final date’ to end all restrictions
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