What happened on 24th March 2023

On Friday, the Metro and other tabloids sought to inspire panic with assertion that Covid-19 infections in England have risen to their highest level since the start of the year with around one in 40 now being infected. At the same time, some media issued horrifying news that dozens of families damaged by a rare reaction to the AstraZeneca Covid 19 jab have have launched legal action against the pharmaceutical company. Together with the Thursday's article about kids from vulnerable backgrounds who never returned to school after lockdown and became 'Ghost children,' this selection of stories demonstrates that the Covid-19 still has great impact on the UK community. 

There is no unambiguous attitude towards either it's risks, or jabs' necessity and safety. Yet, the most popular opinion on Reddit is: ""over 3 billion doses of the vaccine have been supplied to more than 180 countries"and only "445 reports of major blood clots (thrombosis) with concurrent low platelets (thrombocytopenia) reported after AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, including, tragically, 81 deaths."

Obviously tragic if those reports of injury are true. However compared to the loss of life, negative health impact and overall impact of covid. I'd still call this a win." "But if you've suffered as a result of taking a punt for society, you should be compensated."

 Meanwhile, the Guardian has sounded the alarm - 68% of Muslims in England and Wales live in areas with high unemployment. 

The social media commentators agree that this is rather acute problem. But there are different opinions about it. Some of them consider that 

""Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures for 2015, which found 35% of all Muslim women from 16 to 64 were in employment.About 2.6 million Muslims live in local authorities where more than one in 20 of the population aged 16 to 64 is unemployed, according to analysis of census data."

If only roughly a third of Muslim women are in employment, then it's not too surprising that about 1 in 20 in Muslim areas are unemployed, in fact one would think the unemployment rate would be even higher."

Others paid their attention to further data: "Some important bits highlighted below

Working-age Muslims who were economically inactive were the most likely to be studying, at 13.8%, compared with 7.3% of the overall population. This cohort was also most likely to be looking after family and home, with 16.1% of economically inactive Muslims giving this reason

The study, published in the peer-reviewed Ethnic and Racial Studies journal, found discrimination towards Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim to be a significant barrier to them accessing work.

in Inner Cities/deprived areas....

government must begin levelling up for young British Muslims by addressing key areas of concern such as health inequalities and access to higher education and housing, while also tackling barriers to securing and retaining employment.

Given a level playing field, the dynamism and sheer potential of young British Muslims will prove itself to be strategic national asset

Levelling up Poverty struck + Deprived areas would be a good idea for the UK anyway."

Despite the apparent racist attitudes, existence of a quite broad stratum of workable Britons living off benefits is a pressing issue for the UK economics. It might be more important than the fact that Rishi Sunak has lower tax rate than Keir Starmer despite earning 10 times more or that Rishi Sunak bans media from Conservatives’ spring conference.

Rishi Sunak during a visit to Dudley on Friday. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Yet, there are few voices asserting that "Controlled mass media is one of the early warning signs of fascism. This country should be absolutely livid with this but nothing will happen."

That's a controversial view. But it has a right to exist.