"We must learn to live with Covid" says Health Secretary Javid. Yes, the virus is still spreading and mutating, helped by government policy, or more likely, lack of it. Despite the booster programme, Johnson's "world-beating" vaccine hasn't proved to be the way out - something he banked on, after mishandling every single aspect of this pandemic. Except, of course, the “aspect” where he gave Covid-related contracts and easy profits to his friends.

    After Johnson declared "Freedom Day" on 19 July, infection rates rose. In the last weeks they've been between 40-50,000 a day - the highest since March - and since 19 July, 10,000 people have died. That's double the number who have died in France and Germany, where protective measures are still in place. Not lockdown, but compulsory masks and proof of vaccination - as indeed is the case in Scotland and Wales. You'd think mandatory mask-wearing was a no-brainer. But looking for "brains" in the heads of Johnson and his ministers is a pointless exercise.

    So despite warnings from NHS doctors that "we are stumbling into another winter crisis", Kwarteng and Javid don't want to take "a step back" to "unnecessary" precautions. It'd give the wrong signal to business. As LBC's James O'Brien pointed out, during tributes to the murdered MP David Amess on Monday, no masks were worn on the Conservative side of the House of Commons. Which said it all.

    Now Javid tells us that 2 new profit-bearing anti-viral drugs are to be made available (before every other country!) implying it’s fine to catch Covid, as treatments are now available!

    Already forgotten is last week's Commons' report condemning Johnson's handling of the pandemic. Is he any different from Brazil's president Bolsonaro, charged with "murder by omission" of over 600,000 people, including the genocide of Amazonian tribes due to his Covid denial? They are both criminals.

    So - just as all along during this pandemic - the working class can only keep its own council: take care of itself and above all, impose its own measures of protection - against the virus and against the greed and stupidity of the bosses and their political lackeys in Westminster.