COVID-19

On this page you will find updates and guidance regarding the ongoing situation with Covid-19. We will update it as regularly as possible.

Government updates and advice on a range of components can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Covid-19 has been a vast challenge for the economy, society and, most acutely, our NHS, and I will continue to work with local and national stakeholders to manage our response.

If you have a very specific concern or would like clarification, please do email me and I will be sure to provide you with as much assistance as possible.

The current Government advice for individuals is as below:

England has moved to Plan B in response to the risks of the Omicron variant.

  • Get vaccinated and get your booster dose
  • Wear a face covering in most indoor public places and on public transport
  • Work from home, if you can
  • Let fresh air in if you meet indoors. Meeting outdoors is safer
  • Get tested and self-isolate if required

Find out how to stay safe and help prevent the spread

A Covid-19 booster vaccine dose helps improve the protection that you have from your first 2 doses of the vaccine.

It helps give you longer-term protection against getting seriously ill from Covid-19. I would urge all of my constituents to get your jabs as soon as you can. 

If you have symptoms of COVID-19

Get a PCR test as soon as possible if you have any of these symptoms, even if mild:

  • a high temperature
  • a new, continuous cough
  • a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

Get a test now

Stay at home until you get your test result – only leave your home to have a test. Check if people you live with need to self-isolate

Self-Isolation rules:

From the 17th January 2022, you can stop self-isolating at the start of day 6 if you get 2 negative rapid lateral flow test results on days 5 and 6, and do not have a temperature. Tests must be at least 24 hours apart. If either test is positive, wait 24 hours before testing again.

Testing for international arrivals:

From the 9th January 2022, if you qualify as fully vaccinated, you can take either a rapid lateral flow or PCR test within 2 days of arriving in England. If you have a positive result on the rapid lateral flow test, you must self-isolate immediately.

News

Statement on Omicron

I understand that many people hold passionate views about the steps that they believe the Government should or should not be taking in response to the Omicron outbreak. Indeed, I have received significant levels of correspondence arguing for both no restrictions and much tougher ones.

My latest column - 15th July

Throughout the worst of the pandemic ‘returning to normal’ has sounded like a distant and unbelievable prospect. But a return to something like pre-Covid life is now possible, given the Prime Minister’s confirmation this week that almost all Covid restrictions will cease on 19th July.

My latest column - 19th November 2020

Voting for the UK to return to a national lockdown earlier this month was one of the hardest choices I have ever had to make as an MP.

Statement on the latest Coronavirus measures

It must be stressed that we do not currently face a choice between lockdown or no lockdown. The choice in policy terms that faces us is whether to continue with local and regional lockdowns or move to a national one.

My latest column - 15th October 2020

I wish I was writing about something other than Coronavirus, which I have touched on to some degree in each of my last few columns.

Covid-19 update

I entirely understand that many people are frustrated that over half a year since full lockdown we have heard much of that word again, at a time when many are understandably tiring of the situation.

My latest column - 20th August 2020

In a matter of days something should be happening that has occurred at around this time of every year of my life, and probably every year of most readers’ lifetimes – schools throwing open their doors again after the summer break.