Tube line suspended and others closed due to staff shortage as Pingdemic ravages Britain

A TUBE line has been suspended and two others affected after the "Pingdemic" cut staff numbers.

The NHS Test & Trace app has ordered a record 520,194 to stay home in just a week, a 46 per cent rise on the previous seven days.

Now train services are being affected by a staff shortage triggered when workers were told to self-isolate.

The Metropolitan Line is not currently running after control room staff were alerted this morning.

The Piccadilly and District line have also been affected with services expected to resume at 9pm.

Richard Jones, London Underground's head of network operations, said: "Due to a shortage of control room staff who are having to self-isolate following notification this morning via the Test and Trace app, there will be no service on the Metropolitan line for the rest of the day.

"This will also impact the Piccadilly line with no service between South Harrow and Uxbridge and no service on the District line between High Street Kensington and Edgware.

"We apologise to customers for the disruption. London Underground tickets will be accepted on local bus services."

It comes as a staggering two million Brits were thought to be stuck at home this week after being pinged.

Testing labs have been swamped as vast numbers are advised to get checked, meaning vital PCR tests are not available in some areas.

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Experts have now warned there will be even more of a surge in workers self-isolating when restrictions are lifted on Monday.

Millions will return to the office on Freedom Day - with some researchers predicting the number of isolating Brits could soar to 2.6 million next week, including nearly one million school children.

Economic think tank the Adam Smith Institute predicted the number of isolating Brits could soar to 2.6 million next week, including nearly one million school children.

Deputy director of think tank the Adam Smith Institute Matthew Kilcoyne said: “Many people are deleting the app because they know it is too sensitive.

“This is a very rational move when so many are vaccinated and there are effective treatments to protect the vulnerable.

“One-third of people will face financial hardship if they are forced to isolate. They must balance a very real risk of lost income against a very low potential risk from the virus.

“This is a worst-of-all-worlds nightmare that could cripple the economy.

“Orders are going unfulfilled due to staff shortages, forcing people and business to borrow more money in an uncertain climate. The app is a short-sighted false economy, right when we need it least.”