Covid app ping updates as it happened: Shoppers warned not to panic buy goods

22 July 2021, 10:07 | Updated: 22 July 2021, 14:38

Shelves seen empty in Asda in Wallasey as 'pingdemic' shortages continue

Shops are facing growing difficulties in keeping shelves stocked due to staff shortages due to the Covid-19 pingdemic.

Iceland has said it had closed 'a number of stores' after 1,000 members of staff - 4% of its workforce - were 'pinged'.

The chain has also warned people not to stockpile goods when they go shopping.

BP has also said it has had to temporarily close some of its stations due to a petrol and diesel supply problem caused by a shortage of lorry drivers who were also pinged.

Co-op and Sainsbury's also issued updates to shoppers, with Co-op warning of "some patchy disruption to our deliveries."

The chief executive of the British Retail Consortium has warned that some food retailers will be forced to close stores because of the number of staff being told to self-isolate by the NHS app.

Read through the round up of what happened on Thursday morning below, and read the latest on the problem here.

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