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Earlier lockdown would have saved lives of London bus drivers, says report Earlier lockdown would have saved lives of London bus drivers, says report
(about 7 hours later)
Male bus drivers in capital were 3.5 times more likely to die from Covid-19 than men in other jobsMale bus drivers in capital were 3.5 times more likely to die from Covid-19 than men in other jobs
Imposing an earlier lockdown in England would have saved lives, according to a report into the high death rate of London bus drivers in the pandemic by a leading expert on health and social inequalities.Imposing an earlier lockdown in England would have saved lives, according to a report into the high death rate of London bus drivers in the pandemic by a leading expert on health and social inequalities.
Male London bus drivers aged 20 to 65 were 3.5 times more likely to die from Covid-19 between March and May than men in other occupations across England and Wales, says Sir Michael Marmot.Male London bus drivers aged 20 to 65 were 3.5 times more likely to die from Covid-19 between March and May than men in other occupations across England and Wales, says Sir Michael Marmot.
The report was commissioned by Transport for London amid major concerns over the deaths of bus drivers in the capital. Marmot says drivers were at risk because of their job and also their underlying health as many had high blood pressure. They were more likely to live in the boroughs most hit by the virus and many were from black and ethnic minority groups.The report was commissioned by Transport for London amid major concerns over the deaths of bus drivers in the capital. Marmot says drivers were at risk because of their job and also their underlying health as many had high blood pressure. They were more likely to live in the boroughs most hit by the virus and many were from black and ethnic minority groups.
“Driving a bus, coach or taxi is among the frontline occupations associated with increased risk of death from Covid-19. Because London was an early centre of the pandemic, it is likely that the increased risk among London bus drivers is associated with exposure,” said Prof Marmot, the director of the UCL Institute of Health Equity.“Driving a bus, coach or taxi is among the frontline occupations associated with increased risk of death from Covid-19. Because London was an early centre of the pandemic, it is likely that the increased risk among London bus drivers is associated with exposure,” said Prof Marmot, the director of the UCL Institute of Health Equity.
“Our review explicitly suggests that lockdown was the main factor that saved bus drivers’ lives. If lockdown had occurred earlier, it would likely have saved more lives. For those with high blood pressure, exposure to Covid-19 is particularly hazardous, disproportionately affecting drivers of ethnic minority backgrounds. In addition to reducing exposure to the virus, all drivers should therefore be screened for health risk, with those most vulnerable to dying from the virus receiving the most benefit.”“Our review explicitly suggests that lockdown was the main factor that saved bus drivers’ lives. If lockdown had occurred earlier, it would likely have saved more lives. For those with high blood pressure, exposure to Covid-19 is particularly hazardous, disproportionately affecting drivers of ethnic minority backgrounds. In addition to reducing exposure to the virus, all drivers should therefore be screened for health risk, with those most vulnerable to dying from the virus receiving the most benefit.”
Ten bus companies were working for TFL at the start of the pandemic, employing about 30,000 people, of whom 34 reportedly died with Covid-19. Of those, at least 29 were among the 25,000 bus drivers. The report finds there may have been two more, one of whom went off sick in February, while the other died in June. Ten bus companies were working for TFL at the start of the pandemic, employing about 30,000 people, of whom 34 reportedly died with Covid-19. Of those, at least 29 were among the 25,000 bus drivers.
Marmot was asked to look into the reasons and also how bus drivers could be better protected, for instance with better cleaning of vehicles and protective shielding. The latter issues will be part of a later report.
Stories emerged of passengers spitting at bus drivers. One man was jailed for 10 months as a result.Stories emerged of passengers spitting at bus drivers. One man was jailed for 10 months as a result.
When the review was announced in May, London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, said it would “ensure we are taking every possible measure to protect our heroic staff”. The findings are not limited to London. In the same period, “there were 70 more deaths to bus and coach drivers in England and Wales than would have been expected, of which 53 deaths included Covid-19 on the death certificate and 17 did not”, says the report.
The findings are not limited to London. Looking at excess mortality for England and Wales over the period from March to May, it was higher everywhere for bus and coach drivers than other occupations. Most of the London bus drivers who died fell sick 10 days either side of the lockdown on 23 March, says the report, which suggests they became infected before lockdown.
“There were 70 more deaths to bus and coach drivers in England and Wales than would have been expected, of which 53 deaths included Covid-19 on the death certificate and 17 did not,” says the report. “Had lockdown come earlier it is likely that many fewer bus drivers would have died,” says the report.
Most of London’s bus drivers stopped working 10 days either side of the lockdown on 23 March, says the report, which suggests they became infected before lockdown. Deaths came down after that date. The team examined death certificates for 13 of the bus drivers. In seven cases, high blood pressure or hypertension was a contributory factor. “This may be indicative of both the sedentary nature of bus driving and work stress,” says the report.
“In addition to reducing exposure of drivers to infection in their line of work, lockdown reduced overall levels of transmission in London. Had lockdown come earlier it is likely that many fewer bus drivers would have died,” says the report.
The team was able to examine death certificates for 13 of the bus drivers. In seven cases, high blood pressure or hypertension was a contributory factor. “This may be indicative of both the sedentary nature of bus driving and work stress,” says the report.
“The implications are twofold. It is especially important to protect drivers, firstly, from infection because of the high background risk to health related to their job, deprivation and demographic characteristics and, secondly, to focus on prevention of hypertension.”
A high proportion of the drivers who died were from a BAME background, although the review does not have exact details. “We note the possibility that employment in frontline occupations may contribute to the increased risk of Covid-19 mortality in BAME groups,” it says.A high proportion of the drivers who died were from a BAME background, although the review does not have exact details. “We note the possibility that employment in frontline occupations may contribute to the increased risk of Covid-19 mortality in BAME groups,” it says.
They tended to live in poorer areas, where virus levels were high. “A high proportion of deaths were to people living in areas of above average deprivation and three-quarters of those who died lived in the quarter of London boroughs with the highest Covid-19 death rates in April 2020,” it says. They tended to live in deprived areas -three-quarters in boroughs with the highest Covid-19 death rates.
TfL said it was devastated by the deaths. “It’s clear that frontline workers across the country have disproportionately suffered from coronavirus, which is why we worked closely with all London bus operators to introduce measures to help keep the capital’s drivers safe,” said Lilli Matson, the chief safety, health and environment officer.
The measures included daily cleaning, and physically separating drivers from passengers, such as boarding via a door further from the driver.
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “As the son of a bus driver, this is deeply personal to me, and the transport workers who have lost their lives are constantly in my thoughts.
“The results of the study show that a range of factors contributed to the tragic deaths, including the government’s decision on when to go into lockdown, underlying health conditions, ethnicity and where they lived. I am determined to do all I can to protect staff by putting into practice the recommendations made.”
John Murphy, a regional officer for the trade union Unite, said: “London bus drivers and their families paid a terrible price for the government’s mistakes during the pandemic and these should be fully scrutinised in a public inquiry.”