Young Women’s Trust responds to Prof Calum Semple’s appearance on BBC News this morning, where he said that a rise in hospital admissions for coronavirus included women aged 20 to 40, who were at risk of exposure to the virus because of their work in hospitality, care homes or because they were parents of schoolchildren.
Sophie Walker, Chief Executive of Young Women’s Trust:
“It is deeply concerning that women who have been on the front line of our care response and economic recovery might also be at increased risk from the virus.
“We urge the government to analyse closely the impact on young women from close contact with the virus via the paid and unpaid work they have been asked to shoulder – from work in care homes, shops, pubs and restaurants to unpaid caring for children who are sent home from school.
“If directives such as ‘Eat out to help out’ and the focus on the school return are having a disproportionate impact on women’s health we need to have an urgent response plan.”
