This week the Prime Minister shared an update with the country on our Covid roadmap – and I know his announcement will have been welcome news for many across Sevenoaks.
He confirmed that the county is meeting the four tests, and that the data now supports the next lifting of lockdown restrictions from Monday 17th May. This is fantastic news.
Practically, it means the rule of six or two householders that has applied outdoors will now apply indoors, and the limit for outdoor meetings will increase to 30. From next Monday, we will be able to sit inside a pub or restaurant; go to the cinema; and allow our children to return to indoor play areas. Groups of up to six people or two households will be able to travel within the UK and stay overnight, meaning that hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen, alongside theatres and concert halls. Finally, for sport fans, the turnstiles of stadia can be unlocked, subject to capacity limits.
I am particularly pleased that face coverings will no longer be required in classrooms, or for students in communal areas in secondary schools and colleges – and that all remaining university students will be able to return to in-person teaching. I have spoken many times before in my column about the importance of education and face-to-face learning, and I know pupils, parents and teachers alike will welcome further steps to see education return to normal.
Importantly the number of named visitors for those in care homes will also increase from two to five, and residents will have greater freedoms to leave their homes without having to isolate on their return. I have heard too many heart-breaking stories from constituents over the last year who have been unable to loved ones. Increased contact is something I have pushed for within the Health Select Committee and I am so glad the Government has rightly prioritised it.
While next Monday’s easing is certainly the biggest single step towards normality, it’s prudent that this is done in a way that’s cautious and considered. We know first-hand in Kent how lethal the virus can be, and the sad situations seen in other counties stand as a stark reminder that the threat has not gone away.
At the time of writing, 63% of residents in Sevenoaks have received their first dose of the vaccine, and 28% their second. Our current infection rate (as of 6th May) is down to 11.6 per 100,000. A remarkable achievement, and one we must protect.
