#COVID19 observations... Spent today in conversation with people being asked to ‘shield’ by the #NHS as ‘high risk’...it has starkly highlighted ( in case anyone missed them ... ) structural inequalities that will mean certain communities bear the brunt of this crisis 1/

For those deemed most at risk, they are advised ( where possible ) to keep 2 m apart from other household members, use a separate bathrooms, sleep separately, and to counter the negative impact of staying inside for 3 months by keeping mobile/exercising and eating healthily 2/

‘Shielding’ as per NHS advice is no easy feat for anyone - but if you’ve gone to stay in your 2nd home, have space for household members to isolate if they need to, can afford to bulkbuy food, can get air/exercise in your garden everyday, pay for online exercise/activities etc 3/

The the next 3 months look VERY different to others - those in overcrowded flats, already damp, with inadequate ventilation, one bathroom, no outside space, who can’t afford to stockpile food... 4/

..who are more likely to live w/ key workers/other workers who can’t afford to shield with them, don’t have the resources to move out or space to self-isolate to protect loved ones from transmission 5/

...Or who have lost work or are battling with universal credit or trying to establish space /internet connection/ equipment to home work/school. 6/

We say COVID19 unites the world as it is a threat to us all, but that threat is not equal, and for certain communities and people - already subjected to years of structural violence / inequality / racism - they will be more likely to: contract the virus... 7/

...more likely to have risk factors for developing serious disease, have poorer access to healthcare/other welfare and suffer the most economically in the long run. 8/

We are of course seeing this play out in real time - Workers without sick pay, without adequate PPE, without resources to stay elsewhere to reduce risk to loved ones and not eligible for free accommodation being offered to NHS staff... 9/

... people too scared to access NHS due to charging and other embedded forms of immigration control, those with NRPF whose informal care networks are disrupted. 10/

The community response has been fantastic and moving and I know ppl are mobilising at speed and providing support - but this does not excuse the purposeful failure of the state 11/

We have the evidence for what Tory Led austerity did to worsen health inequalities, we have the evidence that social inequality shapes the impact of crises / disasters on communities 12/

Those in power must be held to account and act fast to mitigate this. And healthcare workers -
I know we are in unchartered, unprecedented territory...but where-ever we can we must consider the above in our care and solidarity with patients 13/