It’s been a worrying time for all of us in Derbyshire Dales who have been putting so much effort into making business COVID secure. Following the Prime Minister’s press statement on Saturday 31 October we now have some clarity of what is happening in the run up to Christmas. I did not want to see any further restrictions and have been lobbying hard for the people of Derbyshire Dales, but having now seen further health figures my view is that we must pull together as a nation and make sure the NHS can cope with the pandemic. The spread in the over 40s and over 60s is worrying and we must protect our people.
I have understandably received a number of emails and messages across the weekend following the Prime Minister’s announcement. I have read every single one and I, like many, am concerned about the effects on the economy both locally and nationally. This is the national lockdown none of us wanted to see happen again, and that so many of us have worked so hard to prevent, but this where we find ourselves and now we must pull together to get through it. We can not ignore the rapid rise in infections nationally and so it is right that action is being taken.
I want to take this opportunity to update constituents again on what these restrictions might mean for you, with more detailed information available here: https://www.gov.uk/.../new-national-restrictions-from-5...
- You must stay at home, and may only leave home for limited reasons, including:
• education;
• work or volunteering, if it is impossible for do this from home;
• exercise and recreation outdoors;
• medical reasons, appointments and to escape injury or harm;
• provision of care for a child – including informal childcare – or vulnerable person.
• There is no exemption for staying away from home on holiday – so people cannot do so in this country or elsewhere - but people can stay away for work where necessary.
- Non-essential shops, pubs, bars, restaurants, leisure and entertainment venues will all be closed – but will be able to provide takeaway. Essential shops will stay open: there is no need for people to stock up.
- Workplaces should stay open where people cannot work from home – for example in the construction or manufacturing sectors.
- Support bubbles, you must not meet socially indoors with family or friends unless they are part of your household - meaning the people you live with - or support bubble. You cannot meet in a private garden. A support bubble is where a household with one adult joins with another household. Households in that support bubble can still visit each other, stay overnight, and visit outdoor public places together. Outdoor public places include; parks, beaches, countryside, public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them), allotments or playgrounds.
-You can exercise or visit outdoor public places with the people you live with, your support bubble, or 1 person from another household.
- I am pleased that the Government have clarified that children under school age who are with their parents will not count towards the limit on two people meeting outside. I am pleased that the Government moved so quickly on this and has also included all children dependent on round-the-clock care, such as those with severe disabilities.
- Adults living alone will still be able to form support bubbles, and children will still be able to move between homes if their parents are separated.
- Those who are clinically vulnerable, or over the age of 70, will be advised to be especially careful to follow the rules, to minimise their contacts with others, and not to go to work if they are unable to work from home. The Government will not ask people to shield in the same way again.
Further information will be released in the coming days and I will update my website with this as and when I receive it. As ever, please do not hesitate to contact me and my office at sarah.dines.mp@parliament.uk if you require any assistance. Given the thousands of emails I receive each week, I thank you for your patience.