Vicky Blake

Vicky Blake

"Where next for the Covid crisis?"

January 2022. "Where next for the Covid crisis?" With Diane Abbott MP, Richard Burgon MP, Dr Deepti Gurdasani, Prof Susan Michie, Vicky Blake (UCU), Cat Hobbs (We Own It), Emmy Kelly, Richard Murphy, Helen O'Connor GMB, Jonathan Fluxman, Ben Chacko (Morning Star).

Moderator Nimo Hussein.

"Once again cases and hospitalisations are rising once more. In some countries the number of new deaths is rising sharply too. It remains to be seen whether that will happen in this country too.

But the current situation already means that large numbers are becoming seriously ill, cases of Long Covid will grow and deaths are rising at an unacceptable rate.

All of this puts enormous strain on the NHS itself. Healthcare workers are off sick themselves while serious cases mount and the peak of the winter 'flu season is approaching. The same combination of risks, staff illness and rising cases is affecting other sectors, from refuse collection to transport to schools . Despite all this, Boris Johnson has decided to take no extra measures to restrict the virus, in contrast to the devolved administrations. Countries such as Germany have adopted new measures successfully, and the ZeroCovid countries continue unscarred by the mass deaths seen here and elsewhere.

The question now is whether the NHS faces a breaking-point and will be able to cope with government policy. Our excellent speakers will discuss this and related topics."