As the country ushered in the new year, the Prime Minister was in the House to give an update on the Omicron variant and our MP was in the Commons.
Whilst cases have hit record highs, the Government feels the data surrounding deaths, hospitalisations and serious illness is hopeful. The Prime Minister confirmed that the Plan B measures, bought in during December, will stay in place for “at least” 3 weeks.
Boris Johnson reiterated to the House of Commons the need for everyone to get boosted and test where, and when, necessary.
Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP, Steve Brine, addressed the Prime Minister, saying; “The Prime Minister deserves real credit for his recent decisions in respect of Covid. He’s followed the evidence but he’s also taken, I think, the wider view of our society and economy which has to be right. In my opinion, England is not out of step with Scotland & Wales – they’re out of step with us.”
Mr Brine went onto ask; “What is the long-term plan for living with covid in 2022 and could that include any changes to mandatory isolation and test and trace, as we for instance see different isolation dates in the US and Germany, to here in the UK?”
The Prime Minister responded to Winchester’s MP saying; “We will continue to keep isolation timings under review, we don't want to release people into society so soon, their workplace, that they just infect all their colleagues, that would not be sensible.”
He continued; “I do think that we have a good chance of getting through this difficult wave and getting back to something like normality as fast as possible”
Speaking afterwards Steve said; "It was good to have this exchange with the PM but, as I said to his team later on, letting the Plan B measures expire later this month (if that is what happens) is not a learning to live with Covid plan. The virus will be with us forever so we need to know what the Government means when it says we will live alongside when, as will happen, the next variant comes along or even next Winter when the NHS is under its usual seasonal pressure. I and many others want to see that from Ministers and it is, sadly, lacking at this time."
More information ...
Read the full debate via Hansard
Read Steve's recent opinion piece for the Sunday Telegraph on learning to live with Covid
