Newspaper column 22 July 2021 - Stage 4 of the Roadmap to Recovery

 

This past Monday saw the easing of most COVID-19 restrictions as we enter Step 4 of the Roadmap to Recovery.

This has seen a number of significant changes including the lifting of the legal requirements on how many people can meet, social distancing in most places, and the requirement by law to wear face-coverings in many settings.

I fully appreciate that while these changes will be welcomed by many of us, there will be some who still have concerns about them. Monday’s changes move the onus of responsibility to the individual, and while it is no longer mandatory to wear masks in shops for example, you are still perfectly entitled to wear one if you choose, and individual shops and chains can still have rules on wearing masks should they wish.

That we have got this far and are now able to make these changes is down to the success of our vaccine programme, and I must again pay tribute to all of those involved in the vaccine’s rollout, our NHS and incredible volunteers who have worked around the clock to administer it.

The UK has vaccinated more of its population than any other country in Europe, with the exception of Malta, and has administered more doses per capita than any other G7 nation.

The Prime Minister set targets to offer a vaccine to all adults in the UK and to vaccinate two in three adults with both doses by 19 July – and both were achieved by 18 July. That’s more than 46 million people who have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 35 million people have had both doses

The success of the vaccination programme has significantly reduced the link between infections and severe disease and death, and allows our country to live with the virus, rather than lockdown, with all of the damaging social and economic consequences that these measures bring.

There will be those who argue that we should remain locked down, but I believe that now, with the success of the vaccine programme, the warmer weather not being conducive to the virus thriving, and schools breaking up, is the best time to do so. If not now, then when? There are numerous other factors to consider including the socio-economic impacts of lockdown-style measures, as well as the pressure they put on our NHS in other areas where treatments have been postponed due to the restrictions in place.

It is now about common sense and personal responsibility and I hope people will understand this and act responsibly to help ensure these easings remain permanent.

As ever, if you need my assistance with anything then my team and I are here to help. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , or by telephone on 01872 229698. I have now restarted my regular constituency advice surgeries, held in a covid-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with.