london and everyday on average last week they had 383 staff absent because of covid. not necessarily sick but because of self isolation rules, orsomeone sick but because of self isolation rules, or someone was isolating in theirfamily and rules, or someone was isolating in their family and they had to stay at home. the figure was up 43% in a week. about 8% of staff were of because of absences and this is the problem going forward. it may not just affect hospital and health care staff, it might affect social care staff, it might affect social care staff, those looking after vulnerable people in care homes, people working in other important sectors like the police and fire service. it s a reason why there s been pressure to change some of the self isolation rules. in england and other parts of the uk they ve said rather than ten days isolation you can reduce it to seven if you test at the end of that period. in the us it has been reduced for some people down to five. media coverage has s