'Pingdemic' grips Britain as fears of food shortages grow

Hundreds of thousands of workers told to isolate after contact with someone with Covid-19

There are fears that staff shortages could result in a repeat of the empty shelves witnessed across the world when Covid first spread last year.

Supermarkets, wholesalers and hauliers across Britain were struggling to ensure stable food and fuel supplies after an official health app told hundreds of thousands of workers to isolate after contact with someone with Covid-19.

Coronavirus cases in Britain have been broadly rising for a month, with more than 44,000 recorded on Wednesday.