Today in Parliament the Prime Minister has set out our further response to growing spread of coronavirus. At this time I would like to thank residents of Rugby and Bulkington who have done the right thing and followed the guidance on washing their hands, covering their face and maintaining social distancing. I also want to thank, on behalf of all local residents, the hard work and dedication of our NHS staff who have worked tirelessly to save lives, our teachers who are ensuring that young people are getting a good education in these difficult circumstances and our local councils, who have stepped in to support residents and businesses during these unprecedented times.
Whilst we have made significant progress and eased many of the restrictions, the rise in cases both here in Rugby and across the country mean that the Government must now ask everyone to do more to protect lives and livelihoods. This means asking people to work from home where possible, requiring pubs and restaurants to close at 10pm, mandating the use of face coverings by staff as well as customers in retail and ensuring that the current Covid-secure guidelines will become legal obligations. It also will mean further enforcement of the Rule of Six to prevent transmission between people.
As the Prime Minister has said, this does not represent a return to lockdown – and like the Prime Minister, I do not want to see that, as it would do further damage to our economy. We must however reduce the R number to contain the spread of the virus and I urge every one of my constituents to follow these rules. I understand that many people have concerns about the impact that these restrictions will have but they are vital to save the lives of those most at risk from this dreadful virus. Only by following the rules on Hands, Face and Space can we avoid further, more stringent measures.
Mark