Local businesses on Maldon High Street have had to shut to customers today due to staff shortages caused by members being forced to self-isolate after being "pinged" by the NHS Covid-19 app.

The popular Mrs Salisbury's Famous Tea Rooms has been forced to close until Saturday, at the earliest, due to five staff members self-isolating.

Director Mark Salisbury, who is also a Heybridge parish councillor, said: "The most important thing is the welfare and the health of the staff, and obviously all of our customers as well - that's paramount."

Mark spoke of the toll closing would take on his business as the summer holidays begin. He said: "Business definitely steps up the next gear for the school holiday period, and obviously Maldon is such a great place to come and take people out."

He added: "It's a Maldon business and it's predominantly supported by Maldon people and this time of year the tourists are really coming in their droves - unfortunately, we're not there to capitalise on it."

People who have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 are required to self-isolate for 10 days.

In the seven days up to Thursday, 15 July, Maldon district recorded a case rate of 373 per 100,000 people.

Popular amongst locals, the tea rooms have grown into a large independent business with two outside spaces and two internal floors. Up to twenty employees work there on a Saturday.

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Mark said: "We have a lot of customers walking through the door, so when you lose five of the younger staff that have to self-isolate, it has a big impact."

It comes at a big financial cost to the business, Mark said, as it was fully-stocked before shutting - with items including 400 pints of milk. He said: "Lots of wonderful food products are unfortunately having to hit the bin. We've given lots away, but it's tricky."

Clothing store Coe's was also forced to close today as staff await the results of PCR tests for two members, while three other members of the team are self-isolating due to being in close contact with one of the members yesterday (Monday, 19 July).

Managing Director William Coe said: "Until we know what the results are, we are offering a limited service from 10am to 4pm at our Maldon shop to sort collections and deliveries but no more."

While the tea rooms are set to reopen on Saturday, Mrs Salisbury's food truck at the Promenade Park remains open as it is operated by a separate set of staff.

But the business could be hit again by staff shortages at any point due to current self-isolation rules. Mark said: "We don't feel that this is over. We're half-expecting other incidents of 'pinging' unless the Government moves the goalposts."

Double-jabbed contacts of positive cases and under-18s will have to wait until 16 August to avoid self-isolation under current guidelines.

The hospitality industry has been crippled by staff shortages across the UK. Katie Nicholls, chief executive of trade body UK Hospitality, told MPs last week that a fifth of high street workers are self-isolating due to the current rules. She warned that this could soon rise to a third.

Maldon's Yours In Sport was also forced to close today due to staff self-isolating.

Mark said: "I feel for other small businesses as well, who I'm sure in the next few weeks are going to be coming across the same problem."

He added: "It's disappointing but we're all in this together and it's just another hurdle for a small independent family-run business to overcome.

"It's certainly not the last of us and next week is a new week."