The families of NHS and social care workers who died after contracting coronavirus in the course of their duties will be entitled to a £60,000 payment. The Guardian reports that the relatives of those who have died welcomed the money, but said it would not make up for their loss. They also warned that it should not distract from the need to protect those working alongside coronavirus patients.
Families will receive the payment as part of a “life assurance scheme”, according to the health and social care secretary, Matt Hancock.
Amid criticism over the failure to provide frontline workers with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing, he admitted that “nothing replaces the loss of a loved one”.
Full story in The Guardian, 27 April 2020