Meaning of pingdemic | Babel Free

Definitions

The rapid rise in self-isolation resulting from many people being sent advisory alerts ("pings") by the National Health Service’s COVID-19 test and trace app for mobile phones.

UK, informal, neologism

Examples

“The Metropolitan Line was forced to close⟳ on July 17 because so many workers were self-isolating that insufficient control⟳ room staff remained to run⟳ the service.”

“Output in consumer-facing services fell 0.3 per cent in July, the first decline⟳ since January, mainly because of a 2.5 per cent drop in retail sales during bad weather and a spike in cases in mid-July that caused the so-called "pingdemic", after the NHS Covid-19 app ordered hundreds of thousands to self-isolate.”

“To that end⟳, testing should be used to keep⟳ society open⟳ not shut⟳ it down, which is what is happening now despite Mr Johnson's intentions. That lesson should have⟳ been learnt with the "pingdemic" last⟳ summer but apparently was not.”

“The NHS Covid-19 app behind the controversial “pingdemic” is to be shut⟳ down next month. The digital contact⟳ tracing service, which crippled businesses and forced millions of workers into quarantine, will stop⟳ working on April 27 for lack of use⟳.”

CEFR level