Under the microscope

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Overwhelmed

As the Tory government opens up schools and workplaces to benefit employers, Covid-19 infections are spiralling upwards.

Worryingly, analysis by the Guardian says that a worst-case scenario of high levels of infection, along with normal winter pressures on hospitals, would leave many NHS trusts in England overwhelmed by patients.

But even with lower levels of infection, a majority of trusts (60%) could reach patient capacity, with seven trusts being completely overwhelmed.

Poverty and Covid

A leaked report from soon-to-be-axed Public Health England confirmed that widespread poverty, poor housing and large BAME communities in the north of the country meant that Covid-19 never really disappeared from the North West, North, Yorkshire and the Humber and East Midlands.

Disneyland

Health secretary Matt Hancock continues to project his fantasy that the deeply flawed Covid-19 privatised testing system is a 'world beater'.

Tell that to the people told to drive 450 miles to Inverness for a test! Even Boris Johnson's eminence grise, Dominic Cummings, only had to drive 25 miles to test his eyesight.

But even people tested locally have complained that they haven't received the results.

The testing crisis reflects the undermining of public health laboratories and local NHS health facilities by the Tory government, in favour of profit-making corporations with no experience in delivering public health services.

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.