The Global Workers' Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic

The World Socialist Web Site has initiated the Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic to break through the cover-up, falsifications, and misinformation that have been deployed to justify policies responsible for the avoidable deaths of millions since the initial detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Drawing upon the knowledge of scientists and public health experts and the real-world experience of working people and students, the Inquest will investigate and document the disastrous response of governments, corporations and the media to the pandemic.

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Participate in the Inquest

The pandemic has turned workplaces and schools around the world into crime scenes, where a deadly virus has been allowed to run rampant.

Contact us to help expose the political and economic forces and interests that drove the policies that allowed the uncontrolled transmission of the virus and its development into a catastrophic pandemic that has killed millions worldwide.

Featured material

Statement of the World Socialist Web Site International Editorial Board

For a Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic

This statement explains the underlying conceptions motivating the Inquest and outlines a number of topics that will be investigated. It is critical reading to understand the purpose and aims of the Inquest.

Read statement

Video Testimony from workers

“I felt like I was in quicksand… at times it seemed like it was never-ending”

Flight attendant shares his experience being intubated for 19 days with COVID-19

In this interview for the Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic, flight attendant Tim Yoder shares his experiences in early 2020. Tim caught COVID-19 in mid-March 2020 after being told he was an “essential worker” and had to continue flying despite feeling ill when multiple coworkers had already tested positive for COVID-19.

Evan Blake•1 December 2022

Alberta nurse speaks about union indifference to mass illness and death

In this interview for the Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic, Alberta nurse Kerry speaks on her experience with Long COVID and the unions’ complicity in enforcing the government’s “let it rip” pandemic policy.

Dylan Lubao•15 December 2022

Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic

Family of Detroit autoworker who died of COVID-19 demands answers

In this video testimony, Catherine Pace’s family describes the working conditions which led to her death and the deaths of countless other autoworkers during the still-raging pandemic.

Jerry White, James Brewer•21 June 2022

“Our need for cultural interaction is being used to normalize death”

Virginia musician Aaron speaks to the Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic

In this interview, Aaron discusses how the experience of the last two years has impacted his thinking and explains why he is taking a stand against both the pandemic and the drive to war.

Zac Corrigan•25 March 2022

Retired workers suffering from Long COVID in Flint, Michigan, speak to the Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic

Tim Rivers, Evan Blake•20 March 2022

Long COVID patient Laura Miers testifies on her experiences during the pandemic

Evan Blake•1 March 2022

Summary and highlights from Inquest testimony of Michigan autoworker Randall James

Tim Rivers, Zac Corrigan•26 January 2022

California nurse Elizabeth gives testimony for the Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic

Norisa Diaz•24 December 2021

Video Testimony from scientists

“That governments are doing nothing about proper ventilation is alarming, disappointing and frustrating.”

Aerosol physicist and health scientist Lidia Morawska speaks with WSWS about worsening COVID pandemic

Professor Morawska criticises the failure of Australian governments to improve indoor air quality standards to minimise airborne transmission of COVID-19. She also raises concerns about the “disciplinary” action against Dr David Berger for his zero-COVID advocacy on social media.

Richard Phillips, Gary Alvernia•18 August 2022

“Never in modern history have we just rolled over and said, ‘Yes, we must totally submit to infectious diseases.’ It’s a bizarre and unprecedented situation.”

Video interview with Zero-COVID activist Dr David Berger, republished with transcription

We are republishing the April video interview with Dr Berger, along with an edited text transcript, to assist those fighting AHPRA’s blatant attempt to gag this principled fighter for Zero-COVID and consistent opponent of the Australian governments’ homicidal “let it rip” policies.

Richard Phillips, Cheryl Crisp•20 July 2022

“The Gamma variant was maliciously created in Manaus by Bolsonaro’s herd immunity policy”

Brazilian researcher Lucas Ferrante testifies on the role of schools in spreading COVID-19

The studies led by Ferrante showed that the reopening of schools in Manaus in late 2020 led to the emergence of the Gamma variant, responsible for two-thirds of the COVID-19 deaths in Brazil.

Guilherme Ferreira•20 April 2022

“This is a warfare of the upper classes against the lower classes”

Health care expert Gregory Travis speaks on the impacts of COVID-19 on children, misinformation and the cover-up of data

Travis exposes the lies and misinformation spread about COVID-19, in particular its impacts on children, and documents the steady erosion of data tracking over the past year and during the Omicron surge.

Evan Blake•11 April 2022

Dr. Jose-Luis Jimenez discusses the fight for the truth about airborne transmission of COVID-19

Evan Blake, Benjamin Mateus•25 December 2021

Expert Nicolas Smit gives testimony on US masking policies under Trump and Biden

Evan Blake•27 November 2021

Australian respiratory scientist Guy Marks discusses need for global elimination strategy to end COVID pandemic

Richard Phillips, Max Boddy•4 February 2022

Engineer Nicolas Smit exposes Canadian authorities’ refusal to protect workers from COVID-laced aerosols

Laurent Lafrance•12 January 2022

Written testimony

The Americas

“Death, disability and suffering due to COVID-19 have been preventable since day one”

California parent reflects on the social and personal trauma of three years of pandemic

Northern California parent and media worker CJ discusses her struggle with Long COVID symptoms and for COVID safety, reflecting upon the wide-ranging social impact of the pandemic.

Nancy Hanover•29 January 2023

Global Workers’ Inquest survey exposes the ongoing impact of the pandemic in US schools

The survey exposes how the total abandonment of all public health measures by the political establishment has had enormous and ongoing impact in the schools including mass infection, long-term illness, death and social crisis.

Educators Rank-and-FIle Safety Committee (US)•18 December 2022

“The entirety of the pandemic has been a chronic case of mismanagement and outright negligence”

New York City EMS worker speaks to Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic

A paramedic with 10 years experience discusses the city’s negligent response to the pandemic and the consequences that it has had for his colleagues’ mental and physical health.

Erik Schreiber•25 November 2022

Survey of Brazilian workers gathers critical information for Global Workers’ Inquest into COVID-19 Pandemic

The survey exposed the consequences of the criminal pandemic policies promoted by all the ruling political parties and capitalist companies.

Rank-and-File Committee for Safe Education in Brazil•18 August 2022

Canadian neurocognitive disorder expert speaks to Global Workers Inquest into the Pandemic: “To say ‘they are old, they can die’—it’s criminal”

Laurent Lafrance•1 August 2022

New Brunswick educator speaks to the Global Workers’ Inquest on the abandonment of pandemic protections: “All decisions were made above our heads. We had no say”

Dylan Lubao•24 June 2022

CP Rail worker speaks to the Global Workers Inquest about his experience with COVID-19 on the job

Penny Smith•6 June 2022

Canadian restaurant worker speaks to the Global Workers Inquest

Malcolm Fiedler•5 June 2022

Canadian education worker infected by COVID-19 speaks to the Global Workers Inquest: “An indifferent, sociopathic regime equal to any despotic cabal in any era”

Malcolm Fiedler•11 May 2022

Europe

“At the beginning of the pandemic we were not allowed to use masks”

NHS maternity doctor in London, UK speaks to Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic

An obstetrician and gynaecologist from London describes an NHS woefully unprepared for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Margot Miller•7 October 2022

Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic: How a young Tesco worker was victimised for whistleblowing

I had no intention of bowing down to such outrageous demands for secrecy, so I went on Snapchat to publicise that there was a case of COVID within the store.

Jordan Harrison•5 August 2022

Shielding UK mother of seven given “final warning” by schools over COVID-19 absences, also facing homelessness

Laura Baines is the mother of seven children between the ages of eight and 25. Her 15-year-old son Louie suffers from cri-du-chat syndrome, a rare disease resulting from a chromosomal condition where a piece of chromosome 5 is missing. She spoke to the Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic about her family’s experiences during the pandemic.

Julie Hyland•21 July 2022

How Swedish authorities worked to export “herd immunity” to other countries

This submission to the Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic documents the attempts made by the Swedish government to export its “herd immunity” strategy of mass infection to countries throughout the world.

Keith Begg, Virpi Flyg•5 June 2022

UK nurse testifies about life on a COVID ward: “There was a general feeling that we were expendable”

1 May 2022

Medical student at UK’s Cardiff University speaks to the Global Workers’ Inquest

A medical student•27 March 2022

Disability patient testifies to Global Workers’ Inquest into COVID-19: “The pandemic is a mass-disabling event”

Anne Patrick•25 March 2022

Herd immunity in Northern Ireland: “My family has been torn apart”

Christopher Donaghy•25 February 2022

UK teacher Kathleen Munro speaks of “devastating” effects of Long COVID

Margot Miller•18 February 2022

Asia

English language instructor in China speaks to the Global Workers Inquest about the Zero COVID program

“We were united in a common sense driven determination to keep ourselves and others safe in the face of a sudden, novel, and terrifying virus outbreak. Among friends, colleagues, and neighbors, the sense that we were working collectively for the safety of the whole community was universal,” she said.

Dylan Lubao•4 April 2022

Doctor discusses desperate situation at Sri Lankan COVID-19 treatment hospital

“Health workers held protests demanding a lockdown, as well as more tests and health facilities. The government only declared a second lockdown because this opposition was developing.” – Sri Lanka doctor

Our reporter•16 January 2022

Sri Lankan migrant workers support Global Inquest into COVID-19 Pandemic

Sri Lankan migrant workers explain difficulties they faced due to the criminal response of the ruling elite to the pandemic in both the Middle East and Sri Lanka.

Dehin Wasantha•14 January 2022

Sri Lankan health workers endorse the Global Workers Inquest into the COVID-19 pandemic

“As frontline health workers we have been battling the pandemic in hospitals and experiencing how the government has been handling the pandemic in a criminal manner.”

The Health Workers Action Committee (Sri Lanka)•28 December 2021

The misunderstood—and misrepresented—Zero COVID policy in China

One of the most striking facts about the pandemic is that China, the country from which SARS-CoV-2 first emerged, has suffered very few cases. This article is a detailed look at China’s Zero COVID policy.

a scientist•13 December 2021

Australia and New Zealand

Teacher describes struggle to get treated for Long COVID in New Zealand

An Auckland-based teacher told the WSWS how his increasingly severe Long COVID symptoms were misdiagnosed by doctors who said he had mental health issues. He said the government was allowing COVID to spread and ignoring the consequences for people’s health.

Tom Peters•10 January 2023

“Tired, sick people are seeking help from tired and sick people in a system in which there is very limited knowledge”

Australian academic Dr Pippa Yeoman speaks about her ongoing struggle with Long COVID

Yeoman spoke with the World Socialist Web Site about the failure of Australian governments to support sufferers of the debilitating illness and the disastrous consequences of ending basic COVID safety measures.

Richard Phillips•31 October 2022

“There was no real consideration of what COVID would do to the already stressed and burned-out healthcare industry”

Hospital pharmacist discusses the disastrous impact of COVID on Australian hospitals

“The rank-and-file committees you guys are organising are absolutely amazing because we are the people who hold the power, and without us, you cannot run a public hospital system.”

John Mackay, Margaret Rees•28 August 2022

Australian educator speaks to Global Workers’ Inquest: “The biggest lie was that kids didn’t get COVID, did not transmit it, and then if they did become infected it was mild.”

Amanda became active in the Committee for Public Education (CFPE) at the beginning of the pandemic and after being victimised at her school for speaking in defence of educator and student health and safety.

Sue Phillips•1 August 2022

Mother in New Zealand denounces pressure to send children back to school

A parent of two young children in South Auckland, who suffers from asthma, said she is being harassed to send them back to school, despite the dangers she would face if she caught COVID-19.

Tom Peters•6 May 2022

New Zealand nurse describes disorganised COVID-19 vaccination campaign

New Zealand nurse Bron Markham described her experience working as a vaccinator last year during the government’s rollout of the Pfizer vaccine, and denounced the abandonment of the COVID-19 elimination strategy.

Tom Peters•21 April 2022

“The government should be held responsible for those who have died”

Australian junior doctor speaks to the Global Inquest on the conditions in ICU

“They have not just embraced the ‘let it rip’ policies, they have done everything within their power to encourage people to put themselves in situation in which they will get infected.”

Our reporters•6 April 2022

New Zealand student with Long COVID denounces abandonment of public health measures

A 22-year-old Wellington student spoke to the WSWS about her experience with Long COVID and her deep concern at the Labour government’s decision to lift public health restrictions while infections and deaths are surging.

Tom Peters•4 April 2022

“Death is being ‘normalised’ because the priority is keeping the economy open”

Australian respiratory scientist speaks to the Global Workers’ Inquest

“Working in a chronic healthcare environment, I deal with comorbidities every day. It’s not an excuse to just allow people to die early because they have an illness.”

Our reporters•31 March 2022