Today is the last day of the Covid Pledge week of action. So let’s finish by summarising the five key reasons why it makes good economic sense for businesses to sign the Covid Pledge (covidpledge.uk) #CovidPledgeAction#CovidSafetyPledge (1/7)
Reason 3: Good ventilation not only reduces Covid, it reduces other infections, improves productivity & decision making while reducing staff absences & turnover. It can save you money - $6,500 per employee according to one US study #CovidPledgeAction#CovidSafetyPledge (4/7)
Reason 4: Making workplaces safer makes them accessible & attractive to those people who are concerned about Covid, most of whom are still either shielding or taking extra precautions. Displaying the pledge will increase footfall! #CovidPledgeAction#CovidSafetyPledge (5/7)
Overall, if arguments about creating a healthier, fairer, more inclusive society aren’t enough, then sign up to the Covid Pledge out of economic interest! To find out how visit our website (covidpledge.uk) or email us at info[@]covidpledge[.]uk! #CovidSafetyPledge (7/7)
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The notion that Covid ‘is all over’ and that we don’t need to do anything to make public spaces safer is only possible if one ignores the experience and the voices of those who are vulnerable to infection and whose lives remain heavily restricted #CovidSafetyPledge (1/10)
Frances Ryan in @guardian: “Many people who are clinically vulnerable to dying from Covid are still at least semi-shielding at home, forced to miss going the pub w/friends or a simple trip to the shops, while the media & politicians look the other way” #CovidSafetyPledge (2/10)
Her words are supported by official figures. @ONS data taken after the official end of all Covid measures indicated that over 80% of Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) people were either still shielding (13%) or taking additional precautions #CovidSafetyPledge (3/10)
Over the last few days we have stressed the importance of clean air. But there is another, equally crucial, element of the Covid Pledge: supporting people to stay home when ill. #covidpledgeaction#covidsafetypledge (1/10)
When Johnson lifted support for self-isolation in February 2022, he was asked if people should stay home if sick. He replied yes, and he wished the British were ‘disciplined’ like the Germans and did so... #covidpledgeaction#covidsafetypledge (2/10)
As many pointed out, this has nothing to do with lack of discipline. It has to do with lack of support. Sick pay in 🇬🇧 is £99.35 per week. In 🇩🇪 it is 100% of ordinary pay for the 1st 6 weeks. The UK is just about the worst in Europe. #covidpledgeaction#covidsafetypledge (3/10)
For 3 days we've shown that the case for ventilation & safer environments is unanswerable. After 3 years of Covid, it’s clear that the Govt isn’t going to do anything. So here, for the Covid Pledge Week of Action, are 6 things we can do #CovidSafetyPledge#CovidPledgeAction (1/8)
Covid shows how good ventilation benefits employers, employees & customers alike. Yesterday we outlined the reasons. Today, let’s delve more deeply into one of the lesser known – & most compelling – reasons: stuffiness makes you stupid! #CovidPledgeAction#CovidSafetyPledge (1/9)
First. Poor ventilation reduces how much you get done. A study in the journal Indoor Air (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15330777/ ) concludes that it has been shown ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ that poor indoor air quality decreases productivity by as much as 9%! #CovidSafetyPledge (2/9).
That led an article in The Business Journals from 2019 (before Covid) to offer the following advice: Want your people to be more productive? Here’s a novel idea: open the window. That’s right. Give them some fresh air. #CovidPledgeAction#CovidSafetyPledge (3/9)
The Covid Pledge Week of Action marks 3 years since the UK started responding to Covid. We still haven’t acted to make our environments safe – notably via good ventilation. This failure is inexcusable. We have to act now. Here is why. #CovidPledgeAction#CovidSafetyPledge (1/8)
Ventilation is a health issue – implemented poorly it leads to increased transmission of the virus, to more infection and more Long Covid. All that when the NHS has a waiting list of over 7 million people and is cracking at the seams. #CovidPledgeAction#CovidSafetyPledge (2/8)
Ventilation is an economic issue. It impacts individual incomes at a time of increased pressure. It leads to short term staff shortages and more people (half a million already) dropping out of employment altogether. #CovidPledgeAction#CovidSafetyPledge
(3/8)
This week (March 20th-26th) is the Covid Pledge Week of Action. The Covid Pledge (see covidpledge.uk) is a commitment by employers to improve the safety of their premises for employees and customers #CovidPledgeAction#CovidSafetyPledge (1/7)
In particular, it involves a commitment to assess Covid risks on their premises, where necessary to introduce protections (especially good ventilation) and to support staff in staying at home if infected #CovidPledgeAction#CovidSafetyPledge (2/7).
The pledge is sponsored by a host of community organisations (e.g. Clinically Vulnerable Families), professional organisations (e.g. British Medical Association) and Trades Unions (from ASLEF to UNITE) #CovidPledgeAction#CovidSafetyPledge (3/7)