I have recently been contacted by constituents concerned about the lockdown measures which came into force on 31st December 2020.
We are currently seeing a rise in Covid-19 cases due to the emergence and transmission of the new strain of the virus. St Mary’s Hospital is treating more patients with Covid-19 than ever before.
It is important that any action taken is underpinned by the science and that data on which decisions are based is accurate, peer-reviewed and available to the public. I did not support the second lockdown due to the evidence presented. I voted against the 10pm curfew.
Whilst I am not generally in favour of lockdowns as they often risk doing more harm than good, there has been little alternative in relation to the third lockdown. Without it, health services would have been over-run.
I will support a gradual lifting of the lockdown. I do not want lockdown to last a day longer than necessary.
I am relieved that the vaccine rollout has commenced. I am pressing Government ministers for additional support for the rollout and making the case for teachers and teaching assistants to be prioritised.