The latest Public Health England data shows that we are blessed with effective vaccines – an increase in cases is not being matched by a similar rise in hospitalisations, which they said was ‘encouraging’ and shows that ‘the vaccination programme continues to mitigate the impact of this variant’. By 21 June, the most vulnerable in our society will have been offered both doses of their vaccination – and they account for 99% of Covid deaths and around 80% of Covid hospitalisations.
The effectiveness of our vaccines at preventing hospitalisation means unlocking on 21 June could proceed safely, however as you will have heard, that did not happen.
We have a rapid rollout of effective vaccines and are heading into summer. If even at this point, the Government won’t release restrictions and get us back to normal then many people will think that the Government will lock down the country with restrictions in the autumn and winter, when respiratory diseases increase and the NHS is always under more pressure. That would be devastating for business confidence, people’s livelihoods and wellbeing.
Now that the most vulnerable have been protected with their vaccine doses, we have to learn to live with this virus rather than endure seasonal on-off lockdowns and restrictions.
The Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, says Covid will be with us ‘forever’. Variants and mutations will appear for the rest of time.
If our very effective vaccines cannot deliver us freedom from restrictions, then nothing ever will.
There was a crumb of comfort for those couples who are due to get married in the coming weeks, with limits on wedding guests lifted – something I have been fighting for in recent weeks. However, with social distancing still legally enforceable, many venues will be compelled to refuse those additional guests.
MPs are expected to be asked to approve a new set of Regulations underpinning these measures later this week, which I will not support.
With the Labour Party and other opposition parties continuing to be AWOL on the topic of Covid, as your local MP I shall continue leading the efforts in Parliament to ask the right questions of Government.