Covid and poverty rising - Welsh lockdown ends with little progress

Cwmcafit/CC (Click to enlarge)

Joe Fathallah, Cardiff East Socialist Party

Wales emerged from a two-week lockdown on 9 November. There is little evidence that the 'firebreak' introduced by the Welsh government had much impact on the spread of the virus.

Case numbers are still rising. Seven local areas have a positive result in at least 20% of tests, and nearly a third in Merthyr Tydfil. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says restrictions should be maintained until the figure is less than 5%.

Over 1,300 people in Welsh hospitals have the virus. NHS workers report intense pressure on their ability to treat patients.

First Minister Mark Drakeford was pressured to introduce restrictions in the hope that they will be enough to allow a normal Christmas in Wales. But once again the Welsh government has opted for half measures which won't contain the spread.

Maximum profits

Drakeford focuses on limiting personal freedoms while leaving maximum freedom to make profits. The firebreak was not used to accelerate the development of mass testing.

A properly functioning publicly funded 'test and trace' system would probably have meant the second lockdown wouldn't have been needed. The Welsh government should have broken with the Tories' nepotism on this.

Once half term was over, schools were open to all but the oldest children. These measures are to make sure parents of young children are kept working, but do significant damage in containing the virus.

On the other hand, far-lower-risk environments, like small shops, have been forced to close. The restrictions were imposed in crude top-down fashion.

In an attempt to pacify small business owners - forced to shut their shops and on the verge of bankruptcy - Drakeford announced supermarkets would only be allowed to sell 'essential items', so they didn't cut across sales from local shops.

This led to a significant backlash. People pointed out that a can of beans isn't much use without a tin opener.

If small businesses genuinely need assistance to survive the restrictions, then this should be provided directly from the Welsh government.

Socialist Party Wales demands:

A massive Welsh government investment in test and trace
Publicly owned and accountable test centres and labs to replace the failed Lighthouse Lab scheme
Re-open public labs closed by cuts
24-hour test results for all who need them
Full pay for all forced to self-isolate or furloughed
In schools...
Weekly onsite testing of staff
Return to blended learning
No classes larger than 15
Government resources to help home learning
In universities...
Refund student fees
Cancel hall rents
Provide resources to allow students to return home safely if they wish
Free education
Workers' control of workplace safety
Stop privatisation of NHS and public services, under cover of Covid
Nationalise firms threatening redundancies

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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.