Earlier this evening the Prime Minister confirmed that England will move into a new national lockdown from midnight as a consequence of the variant of coronavirus which is spreading more rapidly.
Hospitals are under huge pressure and are in danger of being overwhelmed if action is not taken. Tragically deaths have risen in the last week. Schools will be closed until at least February half term with the exception of vulnerable children and those who have parents that are key workers.
Alternative arrangements will be put in place for exams as will arrangements for children that would normally receive a free school meal. The next few weeks will undoubtedly be tough and once again we must come together as Blyth Valley to support each other.
The key difference on this occasion is the vaccine and the Government's target to vaccinate the top 4 priority groups by mid-February -
- Those in care homes
- The over 70s
- Health and care workers
- The clinically extremely vulnerable.
That is a total of 13.9m people in England and that is what gives me hope despite the need for these measures to restrict our movements. As the Prime Minister stated every jab tilts the odds in favour of the British people.
