Covid-19 is still with us, and this weekend – 28-29th September 2024 – sees the first of a series of conferences bringing together a range of individuals and activists from various organisations who have been fighting for continued recognition of Covid and its effects.

 The Conference is online, and its focus will be on demanding the right to breathe clean air, indoors and out, to protect us all from the airborne transmission of Covid and similar pathogens.

There will be presentations and workshops on organising in workplaces, healthcare and educational settings, a panel discussion on how Covid has magnified inequalities in our society and created new ones, and an explanation on why changing infection control policy really matters.

The Covid Inquiry has been breaking through the media to at least a limited extent over the last couple of weeks. But for the groups and individuals involved in organising and supporting the Together Against Covid conference, looking back at the disaster of the early days of the pandemic is vital, not as an exercise in evaluating the painful and disastrous past, but for what it shows we need to do today.

 Conference Chair, Joan Twelves of Covid Action UK, says: “Talk of a broken NHS or the thousands not working because of long-term illness is meaningless if the damage already caused, and still being caused, to our society by the Covid pandemic, and the responses to it by the establishment, is not acknowledged. We are thrilled that over 300 people have already registered to attend the Conference, and we expect more to join us over the next couple of days.”

 The online conference will hear from a range of campaigners and specialists but most importantly from all its participants – with a large proportion of time over the weekend spent in small breakout groups. It will be working to develop a comprehensive Declaration of Rights setting out what needs to change to best protect us all – especially the most marginal groups – against Covid today, as well as against future pandemics.

 Register for the Conference via Eventbrite here.

Supporting organisations include Unite London & Eastern Region, the Bakers’, Food and Allied Workers Union, Covid Action UK, London Socialist Health Association, Hazards Campaign, Doctors in Unite, Long Covid SOS, Covid Action Scotland, Long Covid Doctors for Action, the Covid Pledge Campaign, Inclusive New Normal, Protect the Heart of the Arts.

For more information: Website: https://togetheragainstcovid19.org/