Coronavirus rampant. Capitalism’s genocide.

Capitalist food production Source: USA Today

Harry Hutchinson
Labour party NI
Tyrone Peoples Assembly/Dail
Left Horizon (International Socialist).

Ten million cases and half a million deaths worldwide, with the Covid 19 virus now out of control in the Western, Middle Eastern, Asian and African continents. According to the WHO, “ The pandemic is accelerating at 183,000 cases per day, the biggest increases in N and S America.”

In the US all 50 states are facing increases in the pandemic , with 40,000 new cases per day, totalling almost 2.2m cases and over 126,000 deaths. Most of the US cases are in food processing, nursing homes and prisons. According to the New York Times, there are 282,000 cases in 12 facilities. In Latin America there are 2m cases. Brazil has registered 1m cases.

Britain has the highest cases and deaths in Europe. Although the official figure in Britain is just under 43,000 deaths, the overall total is likely to be 2x this, taking into account the 127% increase in annual ‘naturally recurring deaths’ during this period from last year.

S. Africa has 100,000 infections, the highest in the Continent, followed by Nigeria and Ghana with 20,000 and 14,000 respectively. Countries like Iran and India have recorded their highest daily death toll.

SECOND PHASE.

The new phase of the pandemic has begun. Beijing is in strict lockdown, with 100 new cases. New lockdowns are taking place across Europe, including Countries, like Germany, who previously had brought the Covid 19 Virus under control. Contrastingly, American States continue to lift the lockdown, despite the surge in new cases. Texas remains open despite over 3,000 new cases per day. Hospitals are again being overwhelmed with Covid 19 patients.

BRITAIN. NEW OUTBREAKS.

Prodominately in the garment factories, Leicester has recorded 69 cases per 100,000. These factories employ mainly migrant workers, where workers have claimed they were forced to return to work despite reporting sick. Overall 18% of positive Covid 19 tests are in Ethnic minority people. Many of these workers earn £3/hr. Workers in the garment factories were told to hide pay slips, so the Company could furlough workers at a higher rate.

Rochdale has also the same cases as Leicester, followed by spikes in Barnsley and Bradford. Six other cities in Britain have reported Covid 19 spikes.

The Government delayed the test results to the City councils in Leicester and Barnsley. For 10 days Leicester city Council were delayed from taking any action to control the outbreak of the Virus as the Government refused to hand over test results.

GLOBAL APPROACH.

The WHO have emphasized the need for a global approach to this pandemic. The pandemic cannot be contained in one country. As lockdowns are being lifted the Covid 19 virus is spreading out of control amongst all groups, including young children, where reports of severe sickness is being reported among children.

The choice to clamp down on the virus was ignored by the far right Capitalist countries in the US, Britain and Brazil. These Countries refused to offer adequate aid to the poorer countries in the Middle East and Africa, where the virus is now rampant.
 

Capitalism’s genocide is global.