Moving Towards the End of Coronavirus Restrictions, Richard Holden MP Welcomes Normality.
The Prime Minister has just announced that the final Coronavirus restrictions will come to an end In the coming weeks and months. Richard expands on some of his thoughts:
"1.) The U.K. was the first company in the world to start vaccinating and has been a world leader in the research and international supply efforts.
2.) The vaccine programme uptake by the British people has meant that the U.K. Government has been able to keep restrictions far more modest than most other countries.
3.) The economic support has been unprecedented in the U.K. in terms of furlough, grants and other assistance. This was only possible because of the difficult decisions taken to stabilise the public finances over previous years.
4.) The recovery from COVID-19 is seeing the U.K. growing more strongly than any other country in the G7 (the largest developed economies). We’re also seeing record job vacancies and unemployment falling with over 400,000 more people employed than at the start of the pandemic.
However, it’s clear that the albeit limited restrictions in place, are impacting the economy so I am glad of today’s announcements
KEY MEASURES AND CHANGES
1.) Mandatory Certification (lateral flow test or proof of vaccination) - for large events come to an end a week on Thursday
2.) ‘Work from Home’ guidance over immediately
3.) Mandate on Face Masks in shops will end and leave the choice to individuals from the 26th January
4.) No face masks in classrooms from tomorrow and DfE will shortly remove national guidance on their use in communal areas
5.) Further easing of restrictions in visits to health and care settings to be outlined next week
6.) On Monday isolation period down to 5 days
7.) As COVID-19 becomes endemic, legal requirements to isolate will hopefully be able to come to an end on the 24th March and the government does not expect to need to renew the powers from the Coronavirus Act
BBC News details here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-60046073
However, Omicron is still problematic, especially for people who are not vaccinated. 90% of people in Intensive Care have not had the booster so get your vaccine and booster if you haven’t had it yet.
EVENTS AT DOWNING STREET
Like everyone else I was shocked by revelations of parties and events that have emerged in recent weeks. I want to see what Sue Gray says in her report with all the evidence of what happened, warts and all. When that has happened I will respond to all correspondence with my views as to the future.
I have written about it more extensively here in my regular ConservativeHome Column >>>
https://www.conservativehome.com/.../richard-holden-with..."
