1/ What is still poorly understood is that more virus spread in disadvantaged groups means harm not only to them but to almost all other groups in society (except the super rich). This is what the pandemic illustrates. UK policy failed to acknowledge that individualism fails here

2/ Take the example of a policy drive to expose the disadvantaged more to the virus by telling them to send their children to school if they don’t have a device to access online learning from home rather than providing them with devices & free broadband.

3/ More infection in these groups not only means more inequalities in covid deaths & illness, but also more virus spread in their local communities & ultimately nationally, which means longer tough restrictions, more job loss and deteriorating mental health in those communities.

4/ Policy must reflect care for the disadvantaged, but also basic understanding that in a public health emergency every intervention must be population-focused. Even if there’s no available modelling of a specific approach. Sometimes common sense & previous knowledge is enough.