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Good afternoon and welcome to my regular South West Surrey update No. 89. As of today, we have a total of 1,512,045 positive cases of COVID-19 with 55,024 confirmed deaths in the UK. There have been 16,231 confirmed cases in Surrey and sadly 885 confirmed deaths, with an estimated 517 active cases in Waverley. All data is accurate as of 11am this morning.

More good news on vaccines this morning came from Oxford-AstraZeneca, the joint UK based project, which announced that the effectiveness rate of their vaccine is between 70% and 90% ([link removed]) (the variation caused by the way it is administered). This is great news, not only because it a home-grown vaccine, but because the UK has 100 million doses on order. To achieve 90% effectiveness, the vaccine requires administering in a half dose followed by a full amount a few weeks later. This vaccine is both cheaper and easier to distribute than the Pfizer vaccine - particularly good news for developing countries because it can be stored in an ordinary fridge. Two other interesting points from the papers published this morning; even though the headline effectiveness was 70%, no one who used it required hospitalisation. There is also evidence to suggest that it reduces transmission which may make it worth giving to children.

But but but the vaccine is yet to get approval from the UK safety regulator which means it is unlikely we will be getting shots in the arm until the New Year. This is why the Prime Minister will announce this afternoon changes to the regional ‘tier systems’ ([link removed]) (yes them again) which will come into force in December once this lockdown comes to an end. Full details to come but it seems that all retail shops will be allowed to re-open, as will restaurants and pubs (with the 10 pm curfew pushed back to 11 pm). Gyms and outdoor sports centres will also be allowed to-open for all tiers. Those in the highest tiers will be able to access mass community testing to help identify COVID-19 cases and push down the ‘R’ rate (currently between 1 and 1.1 nationally). You can see a good video explaining here ([link removed]) how this will work. What tier will we be in Waverley? Thursday is the big day when we will find out. You can watch the Prime
Minister’s virtual statement here ([link removed]) and we are expecting a national press conference from him later this afternoon.

You heard it from me first (he says) but it looks like they are taking up the suggestion I picked up from Sir John Bell in the Select Committee ([link removed]) to reduce the quarantine/self-isolation time for people entering the UK or people who have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 to be replaced with a week’s worth of the new rapid (at home) testing kits. More on that story here ([link removed]) .

The key number to remember for anyone with pandemic-related difficulties remains 0300 200 1008 the Surrey Helpline run by Surrey County Council (Mon-Fri 9 am to 5 pm).

WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER

The grinch will not be stealing Christmas A UK wide announcement is expected shortly, but although Christmas will be far from normal it looks like up to three households will be allowed to mix for about a week over Christmas. The Cabinet approved the plans last night, and we are now waiting to get approval from the Scottish and Welsh cabinets. Full credit to my fellow Surrey MP Michael Gove who has been working hard to secure this agreement. ([link removed])

Trade deals. Following the UK-Japan trade deal announcement several weeks ago, it was announced over the weekend that the UK and Canada have agreed to a deal to continue trading post-Brexit. The agreement is on exactly the same terms as the EU-Canada deal, but with an agreement to enter into further negotiations to enhance the agreement next year. Expect to hear about more ‘rollover deals’ in the next couple of days as Brexit talks go to the wire. Let’s hope we don’t have the 10 year ‘review’ of the deal that is apparently being proposed by the French… I for one do not want to be discussing the issue for the next 10 days let alone the next 10 years.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY

Community Hero Awards Nominations have been flooding in for my #SWSHeroes awards to recognise brilliant work done by people locally. You can find out more about the awards in last week’s Herald ([link removed]) and nominate someone here ([link removed]) anytime until the end of Friday 18 December.

Testing in Farnham I have written in these emails – more times than I can remember – about how necessary testing is in defeating the virus. So, it is great news that the Department for Health in partnership with Surrey County Council have confirmed that Farnham will be host to a testing site (for up to 6 months) in the Riverside 3 Car Park. The pilot for the Test Site is Saturday, November 28th. The site goes live next Saturday afternoon (from 2-5 pm). On Sunday, November 29th, the site will operate reduced hours (10 am to 5 pm), and subsequently full operational hours will go live from Monday, November 30th - 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week. You will be able to apply for a test here ([link removed]) .

A ban on HGVs in Farnham? A 7.5 tonne weight limit could be imposed in Farnham to restrict HGVs from diverting through the town via Castle Street, Folly Hill and Upper Hale Road, under plans discussed at the Farnham Board meeting which I attended on Friday. More details to come in the next few days.

Hambledon Reflections Residents in Hambledon will know of the village website’s “Sunday Reflections,” a popular feature that appeared throughout the Coronavirus lock-down period. It is now available in print as a lasting account of life in our small village under these extraordinary circumstances. The Reflections have been collected together and reproduced in a booklet which is available from Hambledon Village Shop and includes a fascinating set of contributions to which I provided the foreword. You can find where to get your copy here ([link removed]) .

See my list of local groups working to support vulnerable residents here ([link removed]) .

THE ECONOMY AND JOBS

Spending review The Chancellor will be in the House of Commons on Wednesday to announce government spending for the year ahead. The Chancellor has already said that we "will not see austerity" but people will soon see an "economic shock laid bare". The pandemic has caused chaos in government spending, and the national debt is at its highest level in decades, so there are tough choices ahead. Despite this, we should expect to increase funding for the police, nurses and schools, on top of the announcement we have already had on defence. The BBC have a great article ([link removed]) outlining what to expect and what to keep an eye out for. I am worried some of the additional spending may be paid for by a cut to the aid budget as I asked Boris last week. ([link removed])

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON

And finally, a new burger restaurant in the US State of Colorado brought traffic to a standstill ([link removed]) for some 14 hours as people waited to access the drive-through…and there was I thinking the traffic in Farnham is bad.

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