Coronavirus disaster in Britain

This 16 March 2020 video says about itself:

UK backs down from ‘herd immunity’ strategy against coronavirus

The UK’s decision to tell residents over 70 to self-isolate comes after backlash over its herd immunity proposal.

By Julie Hyland in Britain:

Healthcare students at Sheffield Hallam University are calling for their hospital placements to be suspended to minimise the spread of the coronavirus, which is already overwhelming the National Health Service (NHS).

Their petition to university bosses highlights the strength of opposition to the disastrous course of the Johnson government, which has already seen teachers, pupils and others force a shift in its reckless policy of allowing the spread of COVID-19 with the aim of developing “herd immunity”. It illustrates how 10 years of austerity have led to much of the UK’s social infrastructure—especially health care—left dangerously neglected, understaffed and under-resourced.

The petition was launched on March 17 and students have yet to hear a response even as their placements in hospitals are due to commence.

By Bethany Rielly in Britain:

Monday, March 23, 2020

VULNERABLE families across the country fear that they will not be able to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic, a children’s charity warns.

Action for Children interviewed a number of its front-line staff to find out how families below the breadline are coping with the fallout from the virus.

The study found that 25 out of 29 service managers — representing 60 of the charity’s front-line services including children’s centres — said that they had spoken to families who feared that they would not have enough money to survive during the outbreak.

By Alan Jones in Britain:

Monday, March 23, 2020

Government urged to protect the one million builders in bogus self-employment

THE government was urged yesterday to extend its wage support scheme to protect the one million construction workers trapped in “bogus self-employment.”

Unite called for immediate help to support workers paid via the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).

Just over one million construction workers are paid via CIS, the vast majority of whom are bogusly self-employed and paid on a weekly basis, said the union.

THE Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) is to sue the government for excluding millions of workers from its guarantees of financial help for employees during the coronavirus crisis. The union said today that the new policies discriminate against people in the so-called “gig economy” of low-paid, insecure jobs, and against the self-employed. The IWGB said that the current level of statutory sick pay of £94.25 week discriminates against low-paid women, black and ethnic minority workers and workers in the gig economy for whom the payments are not enough to survive, or in some cases are not even available at all: here.

By Peter Lazenby in Britain, 23 March 2020:

JEREMY CORBYN has called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to expand financial help to the five million self-employed workers in Britain.

The Labour leader also insisted that there should be government protection for workers against losing their jobs, more help for renters, improved social security and an increase in statutory sick pay — which is currently just £94.25 per week.

Mr Corbyn wrote to the PM on Saturday night after the government announced an unprecedented raft of measures to give financial security to businesses and to some workers during the coronavirus crisis.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain, 23 March 2020:

Urgent appeal for blood donations as virus hits supplies

HEALTH officials have appealed for more people to give blood after donations fell by 15 per cent amid growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said that donations had slumped over the last week, but that the impact had been mitigated by the cancellation of a number of pre-planned procedures.

Nonetheless, it urged donors to keep their appointments, adding that extra safety measures are in place at donation centres.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain, 23 March 2020:

Musicians lose nearly £14m due to coronavirus pandemic

MUSICIANS have lost an estimated £13.9 million in earnings due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Musicians Union (MU) revealed yesterday.

A poll commissioned by the union suggested that nine in 10 of those working in the British music industry have been affected,, with job opportunities down by 69 per cent on this time last year.

Musicians working in live performance have reported the greatest loss of earnings, with teaching and orchestral work also affected by social distancing and school closures.