2022-02-13 12:47

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Ending Covid Self Isolation Rules
Will Put Workers At Greater Risk Of Infection

Write to your MP campaign

There is absolutely no scientific evidence to support the idea that NOT isolating after contracting Covid-19 variant, Omicron, has no risk of one infecting colleagues at work.

Image: Logo of Zero Covid campaignOn the contrary, abandoning self-isolation is a terrible decision that flies in the face of the most basic principles of public health. The Tories don't even pretend to believe in herd immunity anymore. They just want us all to keep getting Covid again and again.

In doing so, their profits and those of the big business friends, will continue unabated as they have done throughout the pandemic. Central to this of course is the removal of free test kits from July this year, ensuring even more profit for the manufacturers and suppliers of the kits.

All MPs who put the health of the nation ahead of business and Government profits must resist this reckless action on the part of the Johnson Government!

Campaign group Zero-Covid has this week issue this warning:

"Johnson's government has already demonstrated that it is unwilling to provide practical and financial support to those self-isolating. Most requests for the £500 support payment are denied and sick pay in the UK is one of the lowest in Europe. It is clear that Johnson would prefer to stop requiring self-isolation altogether rather than be expected to make the policy work.

The right way forward is to maintain self-isolation and provide practical and financial support."

It has been revealed by the Independent newspaper that the UK has made its 'final' order of lateral flow tests and further in the 'I' on-line that the ONS infection survey will be scrapped in April. The clear policy of the UK government seems to be to withdraw all resources and information from the public, while allowing the pandemic to rage on.

The 'I' report said:

The gold standard for measuring the level of coronavirus in the community is expected to be scrapped from this April, as part of the government’s major shift in its response to the pandemic, i understands.

The weekly Covid infection survey run by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which measures both infection rates and antibodies in households, is due to lapse this spring and it will be either scaled back or phased out altogether if the Treasury does not sign off on funding for another year.

The Independent reported:

A source involved in the UK’s Covid testing operation said current supplies were “hand to mouth”, with the order for 780 million LFDs [Lateral Flow Devises] set to be delivered by manufacturers in the coming weeks. The source said it was unlikely that the government would make any further mass orders.

On Monday, levelling up minister Michael Gove refused to deny that the free LFDs could be phased out in the coming weeks, after reports that the government is preparing to remove the tests for the wider public under plans for living with Covid.

Image: No LFT availableThe news item went further:

Key logistical concerns raised by officials will be how to transport the supplies into the country and where to store them, with the UK reliant on various overseas manufacturers, having failed to establish production ties with a range of British companies.

And that:

.........scientific advisers to No 10 have warned that the current shortage of lateral flow devices and high pressure on the UK’s lab-based PCR network is hampering attempts to track the spread of Omicron.

Zero Covid UK is a grassroots, activist campaign of individuals and affiliated labour and trade union organisations who came together in November 2020 to challenge the UK government’s approach to the pandemic.

They have been highlighting the need for appropriate measures to mitigate risk of infections in workplaces, whilst Hazards Campaign have equally highlighted the need for proper and appropriate ventilation systems to be provided in offices and other enclosed spaces, with the need for thorough risk assessments to be done by employers.

In a recent email and press release, Zero Covid said;

"We can all fight for a future that puts health and care before profits and Johnson's career."

The campaign group urges everyone to write to their MPs to demand the self-isolation rules for those infected with Covid and its variants to continues to self-isolate, and for employers to support their workforce need to protect themselves and their colleagues against passing the virus on to their colleagues in the workplace.

Their website has this:

"We are putting forward an alternative strategy, aimed at eliminating community transmission of Covid-19. We are campaigning for this to be adopted by Labour and all other political parties, the Westminster government, and the governments of all the devolved nations in these islands, in order to save lives, prevent the collapse of the NHS and care systems, and stamp down on Covid-19 and all its variants.

An elimination strategy has been supported by numerous scientists, doctors, epidemiologists, and public health experts, and has been implemented by a variety of countries around the world. We want to see Covid transmission driven down to low levels, to stop more new variants emerging, and to end the continued threat to the lives, wellbeing, and economic potential of the global community that has blighted all our lives since 2020."

Image: Hazards LeafletHazards Campaign has continually advised Union SAfety Reps and their Trade Unions of the need for employers to conduct strategies based on risk assessments to minimise the risk of Covid being spread in workplaces.

One of it's main arguments has been regarding that of ventilation and social distancing strategies.

A key leaflet from them is entitled: 'Covid-19 Controlling risks in the workplace' with the subtitle of - Hands, Space, Face and AIR, AIR, AIR! It is available to download from the Unionsafety E-Library by clicking on the image on the left.

Is has this advice to those returning to work after Covid absence or as a result of the ending of Government enforced lockdowns:

'Covid-19 is a serious infectious disease, which has killed more than 150,000 people in the UK and left hundreds of thousands left with long term mental and physical ill health and disabilities. If you are being asked to return to the office for the first time since the pandemic began or have been working throughout the pandemic in the workplace, then it is important that your employer assesses the risks in the workplace.'

Accepting lack of action by your employer goes against your human rights and employment rights, which make it clear you do not have to work in an environment which posses a risk to your health. The leaflet has this advice:

'If your employer refuses to control the transmission risks then if possible, exhaust internal procedures first, and report it to the Health and Safety Enforcement authorities – Health and Safety Executive and Local Authorities'

But of course, the Government's policy of removing all Covid restrictions, DOES out your health at risk and threatens re-emergence of 'Covid - casualties' at work and amongst the general public. There is NO scientific basis for doing so and the policy is all about profits, the demands of Employer's bodies, and of course aimed at placating those right-wing hardliners in the Tory party and a mere tactic to help save Johnson's career.

Zero-Covid's campaign to demand the continuation of existing Covid isolation policies, involves the public writing to their MPs to demand they preserve those policies, and is a very quick matter of adding your MPs name and address to a formatted letter. You don't even have to word the letter yourself, although there is an option for you to do so.

The letter campaign can be found on the Action Network Website sponsored by Zero-Covid here or click the image below:

Image: clcik to send letter to your MP

Source: unionsafety / i news / The Independent / Hazards / Zero Covid / Action Network


Pic: Bak to News icon link

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