MIKE HILL: Covid is a sobering reminder that history repeats itself

Estimated to have killed between 50 and 100 million people worldwide, 675,000 of which were in the USA alone, the so-called Spanish flu lasted between February 1918 and April 1920. It took the lives of an estimated 250,000 in Britain and that included 4,459 deaths in County Durham over the period. It was dubbed the deadliest pandemic in recorded history, but in the week that the UK recorded the highest death rate per capita in the world, it is a sobering reminder that history repeats itself. And behind every single number is a family in mourning and lives torn apart.

Thank goodness we have world-class scientists and our amazing NHS to help us get through the current pandemic. The University of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has enabled more vaccinations to take place and thanks to the NHS, GP practices, local councils and some of the larger pharmacies we can boast of a far better statistic worldwide. The Government have bragged that the UK is leading the world on vaccine rollout (not strictly true when you consider Israel) but our vaccination rate is impressive thus far thanks to our public services; much better than the continuing farce of the Test and Trace programme handed over to the private sector in contracts worth tens of millions of pounds in profit for precious little returns.

While we all hope that the result of this third lockdown is that the fall in infection rates seen in Hartlepool this week is reflected across the country and continues downwards, we also need to continue to hold our callous, uncaring and rudderless Government’s feet to the flames. Hartlepool was touched by their deadly decision to place Covid-19 positive patients into care homes. They favoured their business mates when it came to Test and Trace and PPE, costing the tax-payer millions. They spent billions on unused Nightingale Hospitals, they’ve played mind games with our school leaders, U-turned on school meals and are about to do the same on Universal Credit.

Keep up the good work. Stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.