Government response to Covid report "inexplicable and arguably reckless"

The report, titled "Embedding Effective Hygiene for a Resilient UK," was released by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Cleaning and Hygiene Industry, and if the government adopted the 11 recommendations, it would make the UK more resilient to current common infections such as flu and better prepared for future public health emergencies like the Covid-19 pandemic.

The British Cleaning Council (BCC), which represents the £59billion cleaning, hygiene, and waste industry, is leading a campaign with the support of 22 trade associations covering the entire sector to promote the adoption of the report's recommendations. The BCC is also being backed by The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH).

Jim Melvin, chairman of the BCC (pictured), said that it was "inexplicable and arguably reckless" that the government does not appear to have any interest in the cleaning and hygiene industry, as the report, if adopted, could help to save lives in the future. Melvin called on the government to make cleaning and hygiene a national priority going forward, to protect the public from future Covid variants and other recurring infections like flu.

The APPG report's recommendations include the establishment of a joint Government-industry preparedness team to plan for public health emergencies, minimum levels of cleaning materials and equipment to be made available in readiness, key frontline worker status to be bestowed upon cleaning operatives and staff working in supply and manufacturing if a pandemic happens, and minimum standards for hygiene infrastructure and cleaning in diverse venues to be agreed.

As part of the campaign, the BCC launched its "We Clean, We Care" campaign, which urges industry members to download a pre-written letter from the BCC website to email to their MP in support of the report. The BCC has also been in touch with the Conservative party policy unit and shared information with the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

The recommendations of the report were published last December after the APPG held an inquiry that heard from a wide range of industry experts, clients, and stakeholders from across the cleaning and hygiene industry, including representatives of the RSPH.