West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin writes for the Observer…
WE CAN leave home and see our loved ones again. My niece visited my 93-year-old father last week so that he can finally meet his first great grandchild who is already nearly five months old. These are the kinds of important, loving moments we can now enjoy again, thanks to the amazing progress on vaccinations.
Worcestershire has done a remarkable job with vaccinations and thanks for taking up the invitation. Supply has been well managed and there is also guaranteed supply for anyone getting the second dose and you will always get the same vaccine you had for your first. If you get the call, please make sure you go along – it is vital for your own safety and each vaccination means that we are closer to getting back to a normal way of life.
You have all done an amazing job following the rules and new cases are now down to very low numbers even with schools open again. This goes hand in hand with more testing and there are new test sites all over the county for people with symptoms and for those without. The key to holding the virus at bay is both vaccination and finding asymptomatic cases and if you have to return to a workplace, or even if you want peace of mind when meeting friends and family, I urge you to get tested.
Before Easter, the House of Commons was asked to approve the emergency restrictions which have been needed for the last year. I have always been keen to make sure the Government follows the data rather than dates, to unlock restrictions, and I was also keen to see the restrictions end when the roadmap ends. The power to detain any potentially infected child or person was not something that I could support once we are out of lockdown and I hope that, as the summer approaches, the data will allow a speedy release and give our local business and local attractions the chance to welcome people back through their doors.
