A HEREFORDSHIRE shop has been forced to reduce its opening hours after the owner was "pinged" by the NHS Covid-19 app.

Described as a "ladies heaven", Lainey's in Ross-on-Wye said the shop would be manned by friends as owner Elaine Bramwell was told to self-isolate by the NHS Covid app, before testing positive for the virus.

Selling clothes, handbags, accessories, shoes and silver jewellery, Lainey's, in Gloucester Road, said it had to reduce its opening hours as a result.

In a Facebook post telling everyone to keep smiling, Lainey's said: "Firstly, many thanks for all the kind well wishes we've received from many of you over the last couple of days.

"Those of you who are not aware we are now on day four of self-isolation, having been pinged plus testing positive for Covid, and feeling pretty lousy.

"The shop is being manned by kind friends for limited hours only over the next few days. Regarding next week, I'll update you on Sunday.

"We'll no doubt be back to normal soon, so please bear with us and my apologies for any inconvenience caused."

She said the shop would be closed on Friday, July 23 and only open between midday and 4.30pm on Saturday, July 24.

It came after a record number of people were told to isolate by the NHS Covid-19 app when more than 600,000 alerts were sent to users in a week, figures suggested, and retailers warned of disruption.

Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said the Government risks "losing social consent" for isolation if it does not immediately bring forward the relaxation of quarantine rules for the fully vaccinated.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told shoppers not to panic in the face of supermarket shortages and attempted to ease concerns over the "pingdemic" as Covid-19 cases soar.

He said a "very narrow" list of sectors whose workers will be exempt from isolation rules would be published later on Thursday, but Downing Street later suggested it would instead be "examples of the sectors where exemptions could apply".

Warnings of staffing shortages mounted as NHS figures showed 618,903 alerts were sent to users of the coronavirus app in England and Wales in the week to July 14, telling them they had been in close contact with someone who had tested positive for coronavirus.

Mr Hunt, who chairs the Health and Social Care Committee, urged ministers to bring forward the scheduled end of isolation for all fully vaccinated contacts who test negative from August 16.