As you are aware, in light of the increased threat of the Omicron variant, the Government has decided to enact the ‘Plan B’ measures set out in the summer and designed to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed. This decision is based on three key reasons - the dramatically increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant, the unknown severity of Omicron, and the likelihood that there is lower immunity from vaccination when compared to past variants. That is why it is the proportionate and responsible thing to move to Plan B in England, and after consulting over the weekend with Ministers and Health Professionals, I have decided to support the implementation of these measures.
While the situation with this variant may still get better, we know from experience that exponential growth could lead to a large rise in hospitalisations, and therefore sadly in deaths. Many people who are opposed to these measures often use the current low level of hospitalisations and deaths as a reason to say that we do not need to introduce further measures to stop the spread. I am afraid that we are already seeing increased hospital admissions and the whole point of these measures is to prevent the overwhelming of the NHS when the new variant starts to spread dramatically. I would rather vote for these measures now than have to vote for lockdowns and harsher restrictions should we have not taken the early action we have outlined.
As such, the guidance to work from home has been reintroduced, the legal requirement to wear a face covering has been extended to most public indoor venues and proof of vaccination will be required for entry into nightclubs, and venues where large crowds gather including unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 people. While I understand that many people claim that these are ‘Covid Passports’, I do not think that these measures represent the implementation of such restrictive measures: Covid Passports would mean that we would not allow just a simple proof of a negative Lateral Flow Test, which the Government is keeping as a form of proof for entry into such venues. I do not believe that anyone would find it unreasonable to provide proof of being Covid-negative before entering venues where there are many other people, and in essence you can provide a negative lateral flow test without having to provide proof of vaccination.
I have been reassured that these regulations will be reviewed on the 5th of January, when the Government will provide an update to Parliament. I am determined that we end all restrictions as soon as possible; however, I have a duty to the safety of my constituents as well as the NHS in order to make sure that we are in a position to control the spread of this new variant.
