Extraordinary solutions to Covid-19 crisis

P bestoverty is a pernicious beast at the best of times. But these are far from the of times and the additional misery and the anxiety that financial hardship can cause is only magnified in such a period.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday said she would ensure that payments of £500 would be made to Covid-positive patients in Scotland if the UK Government introduced such a measure in England.

The idea had been gaining traction as a potential way to combat the problem of low compliance to self-isolation rules among those on low incomes, many of whom are facing the terrible dilemma of how to pay the bills and put food on the table if they take an extended work break.

But it makes sense that if we ever hope to contain the Covid crisis, which has for more than nine months now stood over us all like a Sword of Damocles, we must support those people in the most difficult of circumstances to make the right decisions to contain the disease.

Many thousands have lost their jobs or found themselves in such precarious work circumstances that the thought of losing any of their income, let alone a fortnight’s worth of wages, is a prospect that will fill many with a very real dread.

Leading academics are among those advocating for a change in direction and for governments to adopt a far more supportive system than is currently the case.

Their ideal scenario does not stop at payments for those unlucky enough to contract Covid-19 but goes further into the provision of adequate housing, food and other essentials.

Such universal support would undoubtedly come with an eye-watering bill attached to it.

But this crisis has already cost this country tens of billions of pounds and, without an effective programme of vaccination and public adherence to the social distancing and isolation rules meantime, the dream of fully reopening the economy will remain just that – a dream – and the public cash taps will continue to flow regardless.

There is no perfect solution, but extraordinary situations demand extraordinary solutions.