Joint statement calls for mandatory mask-wearing and attacks government’s ‘laissez-faire approach’
Trade union leaders representing 3 million frontline workers have warned that the government risks “another winter of chaos” if urgent action is not taken to curb the spread of Covid, including mandatory mask-wearing in shops and on public transport.
In a joint statement, unions including Usdaw, Unison, Unite, the GMB and Aslef attacked the government’s “laissez-faire approach to managing the pandemic” after the prime minister insisted it was not yet time to impose fresh restrictions.
Sage said moving early to tackle rising Covid infections could help avoid harsher measures later on.
Regional health chiefs broke with government policy to ask the public to wear masks and work from home.
Official figures showed that one in 55 people in England had Covid-19 in the week ending 16 October, a level last seen in mid-January.