Ministers to cut number of people told to isolate

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing August 03, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines Tens of thousands of people [will no longer be required to self-isolate]( if they come into contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus following major changes to the NHS Covid-19 app, the government has announced. From Monday, the app will only “ping” a person’s close contacts from the two days prior to a positive test, instead of the current five days. The move comes following sustained pressure on the government to act after almost 700,000 alerts were sent by the app to users in England and Wales for the week to 21 July, a record since it was launched, prompting staffing issues across multiple industries nationwide. Labour meanwhile has accused the government of “shambolic” mixed messaging and suggested the tweaks to the app were a sign that the government was abandoning its attempts to bring down infection rates. Ministers have [dropped plans to add a new “amber watchlist” category to the UK’s Covid travel rules](, after Boris Johnson said the traffic light system should stay “as simple as possible”. The government has been considering a new category to let travellers know which amber-list countries are at risk of turning red but the idea sparked backlash from the travel industry and MPs. Junior government minister Matt Warman defended the idea as recently as Monday morning - claiming that a move away from three “cut and dried” categories to a wider “spectrum” need not be complicated or confusing. However, the prime minister later appeared to pour cold water on the plan, insisting that he wanted a “user-friendly” system of rules in a bid to help “get the travel industry moving again”. Eight people have been killed and more than 10,000 evacuated after [wildfires ravaged southern Turkey]( in the latest extreme weather event to hit Europe this summer. Almost 120 fires erupted in 32 towns, with most brought under control. However, authorities said that seven are still blazing in Marmaris, Manavgat and Bodrum, popular tourist destinations on the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts. Forestry minister Bekir Pakdemirli said fire crews were battling to extinguish all the fires. “We are going through days when the heat is above 40C, where the winds are strong and humidity is extremely low,” he said. “We are struggling under such difficult conditions.” Locals spoke about how they rushed to try and save their homes and belongings, but there was also a growing sense of anger about the slow reaction of authorities to stop the fires raging out of control. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [LIVE: Norway’s Karsten Warholm stuns with 400m hurdles world record]( [‘I don’t fancy it’: PM’s climate spokesperson prefers her diesel car over electric]( [Thieves on e-scooters targeting farms as rural gangs become ‘more sophisticated‘]( . . Stories chosen for you - [More voters blame EU for Brexit trade problems than UK government]( - [MAGA conservatives celebrate loss of US women’s soccer team at Olympics]( - [Tories must name ministers who met with donors, says Labour]( - [President Ghani calls on Afghanis to rise up against ‘destructive’ Taliban]( - [New home registrations jump to 14-year high]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News Daily Briefing email, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.