How to curb Omicron

Submitted by AWL on 14 December, 2021 - 3:43 Author: Martin Thomas
Covid jab

As the Tory government flounders on Omicron, Keir Starmer could tell us on 13 December only that out of “patriotism” he would back its Plan B measures against the let-the-virus-rip Tory right, the people who call themselves “libertarians” though they back the Police Bill, the Borders Bill, anti-union laws, and voter ID.

Labour left MP Richard Burgon has rightly pushed the need also for full sick or isolation pay for all, and reinstatement of furlough pay.

Emergency measures are needed to boost the NHS and social care, which were already overstretched before Omicron and before winter proper set in (December). Demand the Tories pay the NHS workers their 15% pay rise now, requisition private hospitals and clinics to integrate them into the NHS, take social care into the public sector and level up care workers to NHS pay and conditions!

The Omicron surge will be bad even if it is at the milder end of the possibilities scientists are now assessing. Probably more covid-distancing restrictions will be necessary. Solidarity claims no expertise on how best to calibrate them.

We know that they can only delay virus spread. Those, including on the left, who have been saying that a few months’ lockdown would banish Covid for good, are sadly wrong. But that delay, to allow more vaccinations and ease hospital overstretch, can save lives.

Centrally we advocate the social measures that can reduce Covid’s hurt long-term and, short-term, make the restrictions effective (at present one in four say that if tested positive for Omicron, they would still go to work for lack of sick pay). Over the years, after Omicron, will probably come other variants partially evading established vaccines. Covid is likely to fade over time, but we don’t know how long. It won’t “end”.

As Britain rushes for boosters, Africa is still jogging along at 0.14 jabs per 100 people per day, a rate at which it will take six years to get everyone triple-jabbed. Only 8% are twice-jabbed. Yet Omicron is spreading most rapidly in South Africa and neighbouring countries.

Demand the governments of the world requisition the assets of Big Pharma — starting with the patents and the technical know-how to expedite vaccine justice by ultra-fast vaccine production and distribution!

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