U.K. to Pay People on Low Incomes If Isolating Due to Covid
- Trade unions criticize $17/day payment as not enough to help
- Data show government falling short with Covid tracing program
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The U.K. government said it will pay workers on low incomes 13 pounds ($17) a day if they are self-isolating during the coronavirus pandemic, triggering a backlash from trade unions and council leaders who argue the amount is too little to make a difference.
The payments begin on a trial basis from Sept. 1 in Blackburn with Darwen, Pendle and Oldham, areas of northwest England currently with additional social distancing-rules in place to contain local Covid-19 outbreaks, the Department for Health said. The announcement comes as data show the government’s coronavirus track-and-trace program again falling short of its target.