Can we aim for ‘Zero Covid’?

NUJ London Magazine Branch February meeting

Dear Magazine Branch members

Hope you are all keeping well.  Please see details of our upcoming February branch meeting and a reminder about the Branch AGM in March below.

1. February branch meeting: Can we aim for zero Covid?

With guest speaker from the Zero Covid campaign (https://zerocovid.uk)

Time:  Monday 22 February, 6.30 pm – 8.00 pm 

Join the Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89776225769

 At this month’s branch meeting we will be discussing how the UK can best overcome the pandemic and the potential for a zero Covid strategy.

After nearly a year of lockdowns, can we learn anything from countries that pursued an alternative strategy to dealing with the pandemic?

The UK’s national Covid-19 vaccination programme is offering hope that we can prevent serious illness and deaths from the virus.

But many leading scientists are warning that vaccination alone is not enough, and that we need to implement other measures to drive down infections and safely leave lockdown.

Moreover, they argue a so-called ‘zero-Covid’ strategy to completely suppress the virus and use a robust test, trace and isolate programme to control further outbreaks will allow society to open up sooner and avoid future lockdowns.

Why do we need a zero Covid strategy and what would it involve? Can it work in the UK? And why should Trade Unions support the approach?

To explore these questions our speaker from the Zero Covid campaign will lead off the discussion. He is a former journalist and NUJ London Magazine Branch member, who now works in the legal sector, and is a member of the steering committee of the Zero Covid campaign.

The branch has received a motion for debate on affiliating to the Zero Covid campaign (see below).

2. March branch meeting – Annual General Meeting, Monday 15 March

A reminder that next month’s meeting will be the AGM where we review the branch’s activities and processes, and elect a new branch committee for the next 12 months.

Please do get in touch with the Branch chair / secretary (details below) with your ideas for how the branch can better serve members and put yourself forward for a branch officer role – we are really keen for greater participation and representation on the committee.

Meeting agenda – Monday 22 February

1. Guest speaker
2. Branch motion (see below)
3. Workplace reports
4. Ethics council feedback – incl. support for NUJ FOI campaign; facilities time
5. Q to branch: Re publication of salaries
6. March meeting AGM
7. AOB

Branch motion to back the Zero Covid campaign

This branch notes the tragic death toll due to SARS-COV2, with >100,000 dead from the virus, due to the catastrophic failures in the UK approach to the pandemic.

It also notes:

• The ongoing uncertainty about the Government’s long-term pandemic strategy including how to exit the current ‘lockdown’
• The concern that restrictions may be lifted too soon without sufficient suppression of the virus and without a robust Find, Test, Trace and Isolate system in place to control future outbreaks
• That the most disadvantaged, black and minority ethnic groups and most exposed workers in society are bearing the greatest burden of the current inadequate measures to control the virus
• The need for greater restrictions to close unsafe workplaces, greater support for furloughed and laid off workers and for people to self-isolate
• That the strategy proposed by leading scientists, including those on the Independent SAGE group, to aim for elimination of Covid could end lockdown sooner and avoid the risk of future cycles of lockdowns

The branch resolves to affiliate to the Zero Covid campaign to help build a movement to beat the pandemic in the most equitable way possible.

The cost of affiliation is £25 per year.

Proposed: Adam DC

For any queries please contact Branch Chair Caroline Price on price.carrie@gmail.com or Branch Secretary Cristina Lago –  cristina.lago@gmail.com

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