Coronavirus crisis news from Britain

This 6 April 2020 video from Britain says about itself:

Coronavirus social crisis: ‘I can’t live on universal credit’

The coronavirus outbreak is not just a public health crisis, it’s a social crisis. Owen Jones speaks to three self-employed people who have lost their livelihoods almost overnight and have turned to the universal credit system. How are they coping during the lockdown? And can they survive on government support?

Bogus self-employment epidemic collides with the coronavirus epidemic. MARK HARVEY of the Institute of Employment Rights argues that Britain has walked into a perfect storm due to employers forcing workers to register as self-employed — with no responsibility toward them in times like the present crisis.

By Peter Lazenby in Britain, 7 April 2020:

‘Gross negligence’ from tax bosses putting workers’ lives in danger

Union secure closure of one office after death but warns mandarins are blocking vital safety measures

PRESSURE to close all government tax offices where there have been cases of coronavirus mounted today after one was forced to shut following the death of a civil servant who worked there.

The closure of Trinity Bridge House in Salford, Greater Manchester, came following intense pressure on HM Revenue & Customs chiefs from the Public & Commercial Services union (PCS), which represents more than 180,000 Civil Service workers.

The coronavirus death in Salford was followed by the reported infection of another worker who had been instructed by bosses to continue working in the office.

A demonstrator holds signs saying PPE outside St Thomas’ Hospital in Central London where Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in intensive care as his coronavirus symptoms persist.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain, 7 April 2020:

Doctors slam ‘useless’ PPE provision

Sixty-nine per cent of doctors say they do not feel protected from Covid-19 infection, according to BMA poll

DOCTORS condemned the provision of protective wear as “useless” today, warning that it was putting their lives at risk.

More than two-thirds of doctors (69 per cent) said they do not feel protected from Covid-19 infection, according to a British Medical Association (BMA) poll.

Some have also said they feel forced to work in high-risk areas without the right kit.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain:

Non-essential transport workers must be stood down, union demands

NON-ESSENTIAL public transport workers must be stood down in light of a massive drop in railway travel, TSSA said today.

The rail union’s call came as statistics from Downing Street showed a widespread decline in the use of public transport since the coronavirus lockdown took effect, with the number of rail journeys now just 20 per cent of what is usually is.

TSSA was set to have a meeting with the Commons transport select committee today.