THE government’s “knee-jerk” policy on worker exemptions from Covid-19 quarantine must be recalibrated with safety at the fore, unions demanded over the weekend.

As ministers announced the expansion of workplace testing, with 200 new sites to be opened this week for emergency and other “critical” workers, unions demanded a rethink and that ministers talk to them.

The government has faced a barrage of criticism over its attempts to stem the tidal wave of self-isolation notices received by workers, caused by its abandonment of Covid-19 safety measures.