As infections spike in Leicester and elsewhere, many blame the people. 'Covidiots' they cry. But, as this shows , https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jul/03/leicester-coronavirus-lockdown-is-no-surprise-to-its-garment-factory-workers they deflect the blame from where it truly lies: employers who make people work in unsafe conditions and a Government that lets this happen.

In exactly the same way, the evidence shows that care homes which gave full sick pay (so their workers were not forced to come in when unwell) had less infections and deaths https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jul/03/covid-19-infections-higher-care-homes-england-agency-staff. The lessons for containing the pandemic are crystal clear

First, there need to be robust mechanisms for ensuring workplaces are COVID safe (not simply a vague statement), this must. be vigorously policed and no. employee can be asked to go to work until employers have certification of compliance.

Second, there must be statutory support (in terms of accommodation, food and income) for all those who are either infected, or contacts of infected people, such that they can self-isolate without any penalty.

Third (and I say. this as a passionate psychologist who has been studying the discipline for 45 years) we must stop psychologising behaviours which are better explained at a systemic level. Don't blame the people for the failures of government and employers!