Star date: 22nd April 2020

VIRUS CASES UP BY 13 WITH THREE SAD DEATHS ANNOUNCED BY SALFORD ROYAL HOSPITAL

Confirmed cases of coronavirus in Salford have risen by 13 to 477, up from the previous day's 464, as Salford Royal Hospital announces another three sad deaths from the virus.

Meanwhile, Boohoo, criticised for marketing face masks that don't work, has withdrawn the offending items – but its Burnley workers are still facing unsafe conditions.

Full details here... 

Confirmed cases of cornavirus in Salford have risen by 13 to 477, up from the previous day's 464.

Manchester still has the highest number of cases in Greater Manchester with 872, followed by Stockport on 658, Bolton 582, Oldham 485, Trafford 480, Wigan 452, Tameside 383, Bury 348 and Rochdale 328.

A further three sad deaths have also been announced by Salford Royal Hospital.

Meanwhile, online retailer Boohoo, which was selling face masks as a fashion item that didn't actually work, has now withdrawn them (see previous Salford Star article – click here).

Usdaw, the trade union for Boohoo workers, does however, continue to raise staff complaints about inadequate personal protection equipment (PPE) and working practices that don't ensure necessary social distancing at the Burnley warehouse.

"Boohoo have rightly u-turned on their highly inappropriate and useless face masks, after healthcare workers and Usdaw expressed their disgust at the attempt to profit from a national crisis" says Mike Aylward, Usdaw Divisional Officer "We now need the company to u-turn on their opposition to staff being represented by a trade union.

"We need to get round the table with managers to sort out a long list of serious concerns from our members about their health and safety during the coronavirus outbreak" he adds "They are terrified they may become infected with coronavirus and put their loved ones at risk.

"We also call on the Government to review their advice to online non-essential retailers" he explains "Their contradictory advice encourages online retailers like Boohoo to carry on regardless, while telling non-essential workers to stay at home. They have failed to understand that online retailing has to be fulfilled by thousands of warehouse workers and delivery drivers.

"We repeat our call on Boohoo close the warehouse for the safety of their employees and their families he concludes "Do the right thing by furloughing workers, under the Government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and to top up the 80% grant so that staff continue to receive their full wages as normal."