If there's a second spike in infections following this week's return to work for blue-collar workers, what kind of accountability will there be?
Just to recap: at the weekend the govt binned the 'stay at home' message in favour of 'stay alert', without sign off from the CMO or CSA. On Sunday, Boris Johnson encouraged the return to work on Monday of those who can't work from home. Then it was clarified he meant Wednesday.
On Monday morning, Dominic Raab said you could meet two parents in the park, if 2m distance maintained. Then we were told it was one parent at a time, even if 10 mins apart (as per Matt Hancock on This Morning).
The public were scolded for acting as though this was confusing.
The public were scolded for acting as though this was confusing.
Workers who rely on public transport for long commutes failed to develop the power of teleportation, so tubes packed Monday morning.
Guidance was released on Monday afternoon, confirming that you can have your nanny round to watch your kids, but not your sister. Because reasons.
Guidance was released on Monday afternoon, confirming that you can have your nanny round to watch your kids, but not your sister. Because reasons.
Between Monday & Wednesday - the official blue collar back-to-work day - it emerges that not only is the testing and contact tracing system still a work in progress, thousands of results from the national testing programme have disappeared into the ether. metro.co.uk/2020/05/13/tho…
On Wednesday, buses are rammed because Britain's feckless workforce STILL can't teleport. Guidance on wearing face masks in public isn't updated. Boris Johnson misleads parliament over govt advice to care homes.
And the whole internet loses their mind because of Owen Jones.
And the whole internet loses their mind because of Owen Jones.
So... in all this, certain things are still unclear to me.
Without alternatives to public transport, how are people with long commutes meant to get to work?
If their employer doesn't elect to place such workers on furlough, how are they meant to support themselves?
Without alternatives to public transport, how are people with long commutes meant to get to work?
If their employer doesn't elect to place such workers on furlough, how are they meant to support themselves?
And without increases to statutory sick pay, aren't workers disincentivised from taking the time off they need if they fall ill?
With our testing capacity in a mess and contact tracing not yet set up, how are we meant to identify and tackle new clusters of infection now that increasing numbers of workers are getting back to work?
Beyond greater awareness of the need for social distancing and better distribution of PPE (often, it must be said, covered at workers' own expense) than at the beginning of the crisis, what will stop there being an uptick of infections amongst low-wage workers?
