The UK is fast approaching a second Covid-19 wave. On Tuesday 22nd September, parents, businesses and parliamentarians expressed their frustration as Boris Johnson announced fresh set of restrictions warning that these can remain in place “for as long as six months”. While Prime Minister finally acknowledged that employees should continue to “work from home where possible”, relieving working parents of their concerns around affordable childcare. He is faced with the biggest challenge of testing, tracing and tracking the virus amid shortage of testing kits, lack of testing centres and lack of trust or understanding of the usability of the NHS Test and Trace App. Now Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has urged Prime Minister to apologise for the lack of preparations.
He said, "If I were the prime minister, I would apologise for the fact we're in this situation with testing. Throughout the summer, we were saying 'prepare for the autumn'. Instead, we had the exams fiasco. I would make fixing testing the number one priority, and reinstate the daily press conferences so we know what's going on."
A recent data published showed in the week between 3-9 September, 417,296 people have been reached by the service. This includes both those testing positive and their contacts. 86.6% of all contacts where communication details were given have been reached and told to self-isolate.
Interim Executive Chair of the National Institute for Health Protection Baroness Dido Harding said, “We are working tirelessly to boost testing capacity so that everyone who needs a test can get one. Each day, around 200,000 people are successfully booking and taking tests and we are growing our capacity to 500,000 tests across the UK by the end of October, with more and more capacity being added each week.
“I cannot stress enough how important it is that only those with symptoms book tests. The service is there for those experiencing a high temperature, new continuous cough or loss or change in sense of taste or smell. If you don’t have symptoms but think or have been told by NHS Test and Trace that you have been in contact with someone with the virus, please stay at home but do not book a test. We need everyone to help make sure that tests are there for people with symptoms who need them.”
But South Asian Labour MPs especially in the North of England have hit out at Johnson and Dido Harding for the chaos around these testing centres. These include Navendu Mishra, Lisa Nandy and Preet Kaur Gill who have raised concerns of their “older constituents” required to travel hundreds of miles to the dedicated testing centre amid shortage of testing kits. The Department of Health assured the minister that a testing centre would be operational at University of Greenwich. But he is concerned that most of his “older local constituents” will not drive 240 miles simply to get themselves tested. Infection rate in Stockport, Greater Manchester is double that of national average. Earlier in the week, Lisa Nandy MP for Wigan had raised similar concerns that there was no testing centre available in her area.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey said, "The Coronavirus crisis is taking an enormous toll on people. People are rightly concerned about their loved ones. Thousands of families are facing financial hardship. We all want life to get back to normal as soon as possible.
"The collapse of the Test and Trace system is utterly inexcusable, and the first objective of the Government must be to fix it. Ministers should have done more to ensure resilience in the system given the inevitable increase in demand when people returned to schools, workplaces, universities and social settings.
"As the situation changes there must be crystal clear guidance so that people know the best ways to protect themselves and their loved ones. Ministers must also ensure that our hospitals, care homes and schools have all the equipment and resources they need to reduce the risk of transmission going forward.
"Lastly, Boris Johnson must take all steps to avoid a second national lockdown which will be incredibly damaging to jobs and livelihoods across our communities."
Parents rendered helpless with children returning from schools with coughing episode
A new dedicated helpline has been set up for nurseries, schools and colleges to seek advice if they have a confirmed positive coronavirus case in their setting. The helpline is meant to inform educational settings of what action is needed in response to a confirmed case from the latest public health advice and work through a risk assessment. Where necessary, complex cases will be escalated to health protection teams to provide further support. Usually, full closure is not be necessary, but some individuals may need to self-isolate if they have had close contact with the confirmed case.
But, parents like Atrayee Bandyopadhyay, who lives in Kent, are “baffled” and rendered helpless in how to get their children tested when they return from school with coughing episodes. She said, “A considerable number of children have flu symptoms after their first week back in school. My child being no exception to this was sent home after coughing episodes and asked to get a test. Trying to book a test has been the most exhausting experience and after sleepless nights and endless hours online we could book a home test kit the fourth day.
“Ironically by the time we will get the results we would be at the end of the isolation period! While we understand the schools need to follow the guidelines for the safety of their pupils and staff, it is baffling why the system failed to ensure a test for students with symptoms? It should have been made a priority. Being unable to return to classrooms due to a testing shortage is unacceptable and we can’t help but wonder why the schools were opened without any forethought. Our children have already lost out on a lot this year and with winter round the corner, I hope effective measures are taken so no further pressure is put on pupils and their families.”
Another parent from Edgsbaston in Birmingham was enraged after being directed to an “empty” car park where they were earlier assured was a government designated testing centre. Nafisa Khan* (name changed upon request) was worried about her son’s cough and decided to book an appointment with the Test and trace centre. But when she drove up to the centre, she found an empty parking site instead. She said, “They blame us for not following lockdown rules even though we are at home. They make false allegations that we celebrated Ramadan which is why there was a spike in the coronavirus cases. But what about when Gavin Williamson says that our children should not be tested even if their friends contracted Covid-19. My son has been coughing since the last four days and I have finally managed to secure a home test kit. But now I am more worried about sending my child back to school.”
It is the same mistake all over again
Gavin Williamson’s announcement that it is not necessary for children to be tested even if one child in the classroom contracts Covid-19 has alarmed not just parents but even teachers. Many teachers have also reported about schools being forced to close because of insufficient testing kits warning of school “lockdown by default” if children are a no show. Dr. Meenal Viz, has been challenging the government for the shortage of PPE that was evident during the first wave of coronavirus.
Commenting about the Government’s reckless message that “our kids can record a mild illness but we should not worry about it”, she said, “The Government was aware about a potential second Covid-19 wave. These are the same kind of mistakes as were during the first wave. We know that the Government did not use the supply of Personal and Protective Equipment (PPE) that was already available in the UK during the first wave. We had received countless emails from managers informing us that they had sufficient PPE for all health workers. But at the same time Health Secretary was ordering low-quality PPE from Burma and Turkey. Now, this message that it is okay if our children record a mild illness but they will recover soon is extremely disappointing to say the least.”
Earlier, last week concerns were also raised by South Asian medics if appropriate risk assessments were done and adequate testing kits were available for frontline doctors. Prime Minister has assured that there is “a lot of work” done to protect the BAME colleagues this time around.
Changing rules
In the meantime, the new rules are likely to serve as a setback for the already struggling hospitality industry. From Thursday, all pubs, bars and restaurants must offer table service only and close at 10 pm with staff expected to wear face masks. This includes everyone working in retail, taxis and using hospitality services. Those not wearing a mask will be fined with £200 in their first offence. Covid-19 secure guidelines will become a legal obligation for retail, leisure and tourism firms, with those who do not comply running the risk of fines of £10,000 or closure. Only 15 people can now attend weddings, but 30 can still go to a funeral. The "rule of six" has been extended to indoor sports teams, such as five-a-side football games. And the phased reopening of stadiums for sporting events from 1 October has been scrapped.
In the meantime, the Mayor of London is expected to meet the Prime Minister to discuss “the measure we need in London to protect our city” and would update residents “on the next steps as soon as I can”. Sadiq Khan has reportedly suggested 15 measures to curb the outbreak in London.
Speaking about renewed curfews and restrictions, he said, “I know that many Londoners, like me, will be deeply frustrated at the likelihood of imminent new restrictions. Londoners have shown incredible resolve by steadfastly following the rules and doing the right thing - at great cost. However, taking firm action now to prevent a deeper and longer lockdown in the future is without a doubt the best thing to both save lives, and protect jobs and our economic recovery.”
Lack of transparent evidence and economic support
Reacting to increased Covid-19 restrictions, Richard Burge, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive criticised the lack of transparent evidence behind government decision-making and called for the Government to make it clear what the next phase of economic support now is, and fix the Test and Trace “mess”. He said, “Because we have been presented with no specific evidence regarding this risk, as many London businesses remain unclear as to why their Covid-19 Secure workplace is now considered to be less safe. Or why allowing flexible commuting on a network that currently has space is an increased risk.
He told Asian Voice, "Many businesses will feel their economic recovery continues to require a certain safe percentage of their staff in the office on any given day. Equally many hospitality businesses will remain unclear what difference a 10pm closure makes, other than being detrimental to their business.
“Of course, public health must come first, but we need to be driven by published and explained evidence, not fear or untargeted measures. And we also need to keep in mind the balance of trying to manage one health crisis but causing another via economic ruin.
“So, if the government is saying these economic restrictions could last six months, then they need to be prepared to support businesses suffering the consequences during that time period. We need to see details of what the next economic support package now is.
“And business also rightly expects the Government to rectify the Test and Trace mess. We don’t need a world beating system, we simply need one that works.”
