Gig workers: unsung heroes and a strategic role in the UK national response to the COVID-19 pandemic

居家隔离和封锁是预防传染病传播的必要条件，我们的许多基本需求都是由平台公司和快递员提供的。该部门在加强感染控制措施和减少公众焦虑方面发挥着至关重要的作用，保持后勤运作以及服务和供应的可用性。越来越多的轶事证据表明，零工是无名英雄，应该得到更多的关注和保护。我们的目标是了解以送货员为重点的零工工人如何通过增加送货上门来抑制传播。此外，我们认为，如果不提供适当的职业健康保护，它们可能成为传播途径。我们将与业界人士和送货员进行焦点小组和访谈，以收集有关送货量和模式的数据。然后，我们将使用数学模型来确定运输部门如何有助于最大限度地减少疾病传播的风险，以及在COVID-19大流行期间为保护工人和降低感染风险而采取的额外措施的影响。调查结果将为英国在保持社交距离和协调供应链方面的政策制定提供信息，并将其作为国家应对措施的关键组成部分。

Home-isolation and lockdown are necessary for preventing infectious disease transmission, with many of our basic needs provided by platform companies and delivery workers. This sector plays a vital role in reinforcing the infection control measures and reducing public anxiety by keeping logistics functioning and services and supplies available. Mounting anecdotal evidence suggests that gig workers are unsung heroes and deserve more attention and protection. We aim to understand how gig workers, with a focus on delivery workers, have contributed to suppressing transmission by increased delivery to households. In addition, we consider the possibility that they could become a route of transmission if adequate occupational health protection is not provided. We will conduct focus groups and interviews with industry participants and delivery workers to collect data on the volume and pattern of deliveries. We will then use mathematical models to determine how the delivery sector contributes to minimising the risk of spreading the disease and the impact of additional measures to protect the workers and reduce infection risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. The outcome will inform the UK’s policy making in social distancing and coordination of supply chains as a key component of national response.