The COVID-19 outbreak is one of the biggest challenges facing the UK\neconomy ever, and certainly the most unique. The UK Government has asked some\nnon-essential businesses to close and stop working to mitigate the spread of\nthe virus. These are shops, cafes, bars, restaurants, entertainment venues and\nsome offices. Many of the latter have retreated to working from home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those businesses which have stopped trading are being compensated\nthrough the furlough scheme which pays 80% of employees\u2019\u2019 salaries each month.\nBut many essential businesses are still open or are operating in an adapted\nway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Courier services are still working in an almost identical way to\nbefore the virus. So, does that mean couriers in London and the rest of the UK\nare classed as key workers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The official list of key workers is not exactly clear. The list of\npeople considered key workers was reduced in the period between the virus\u2019s\noutbreak and lockdown, which told people who can and cannot send children to\nschool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nevertheless, there are some workers who are considered essential in\ndealing with the virus through lockdown means. These people are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The workers from the professions above are considered key workers because\nthey provide services or products that affect the health and wellbeing of\npeople and their needs. They also allow society to continue to operate. For\nexample, those in self-isolation rely on supermarket deliveries and people who\nneed prescription medicine still need to visit the pharmacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, is there also an argument that couriers are also key workers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Couriers are still working across the UK, delivering online orders to\nhomes where people are in lockdown. Many orders are coming from Amazon, with\nsignificantly more orders from UK buyers, meaning share prices in Amazon are increasing<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is an argument that these orders are not essential, but others\ncould disagree. By keeping people entertained with books, games and more at home,\nit can help with mental health issues such as depression – and it could prevent\npeople from breaking social distancing rules. Moreover, there has been an\nincrease in demand for at-home fitness products, which contribute to improved\nphysical health.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCouriers\nAre Helping the Economy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n