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GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my regular South West Surrey update No. 102. As of today, we have a total of 3,505,754 positive cases of COVID-19 with 93,290 confirmed deaths in the UK. There have been 4,886 confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 157 confirmed deaths, with an estimated 878 active cases in Waverley. All data is accurate as of 11am this morning.

DEADLIEST DAY SO FAR Yesterday the UK logged 1,820 new COVID-19 deaths – a grim new record, beating the previous record of 1,610 set only the day before. In the South, COVID-19 bed occupancy remains high but hospital admissions are falling fairly quickly ([link removed]) - unlike the numbers in the Midlands, North and South West which continue to rise. A new study out this morning ([link removed]) suggests that cases may have increased in the first week of lockdown which is very worrying. This week we also learned that infections nearly doubled over the November lockdown ([link removed]) which suggests the current measures are not working against the new
strain, why with a heavy heart I called for additional measures in my question to Matt Hancock this morning ([link removed]) .

THE + NEWS As of yesterday, 4,609,740 people in total have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the UK – that is more vaccine doses than Italy, France, Germany, and Spain combined. It is genuinely impressive that we have now vaccinated (with one dose) more than half of those aged 80+. Some regions have been doing exceptionally well and have moved on to the next groups, people aged 70+ and the clinically extremely vulnerable. Many of you are asking for more localised data to see how well Surrey is doing. I asked Boris last week to release vaccination data by local authority ([link removed]) and as soon as we have this I intend to include it here. I also requested the publication of vaccine wastage rates by local authority/vaccination centre as although some waste is normal, it should be kept to a minimum. However there are some concerns for the vaccine programme, including delays to the delivery of Pfizer vials, the possibility of the vaccines not working with
the new Brazilian strain and this new study from Israel ([link removed]) , suggesting efficacy is only 33% after one Pfizer jab (although it is not peer-reviewed).

SUICIDE RATES UNCHANGED It’s too early to establish the overall effect of COVID-19 on suicide rates in England but there appears to be no statistically significant rise in suicides during lockdown ([link removed]) so far. The bad news is that we still have far too many suicides even though by international standards our rates are comparatively low ([link removed]) . However they appear to have been increasing in recent years, although that is partly because the methodology for counting them changed in 2018. We will be looking at this issue closely in a forthcoming mental health inquiry for the Select Committee.

ACROSS THE POND Congratulations to Joe Biden on being sworn in as America’s 46^th President. His inauguration speech ([link removed]) is a must watch, a genuinely heartfelt, generous and authentic plea for unity. As I tweeted, America must be united at home ([link removed]) to show leadership abroad and boy do we need that. Congrats too to Kamala Harris for making history by becoming the first female, first Black and first South Asian Vice President of the United States. I have written more about the challenges they face in my Herald column ([link removed]) . I guess the most important question is: who performed better at the inauguration - Lady Gaga or Jennifer Lopez? My vote goes to Lady Gaga who belted out the national anthem
([link removed]) as you have never seen it before.

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

MATERNITY SERVICES On Tuesday the Health Committee discussed maternity safety, training and workforce. We spent a lot of time looking at how to make sure there are enough midwives and doctors (there is a way to calculate the number of midwives a unit needs but not yet one for doctors) and how to dismantle the blame culture that stops people being open and honest when things go wrong. I asked the head of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), Andrea Sutcliffe, whether our culture in healthcare is too adversarial when mistakes are made. Click here ([link removed]) to view her very honest response.

SAFER SURREY STREETS The government has announced a £148 million new investment ([link removed]) to tackle drug crime. This is excellent news for Surrey and will permit our police to target local gang leaders more effectively while simultaneously helping people recover from addictions.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY

ROYAL SURREY UPDATE On Tuesday I had a call with Louise Stead, Chief Executive of the Royal Surrey Hospital to see how they are coping. Although COVID-19 admissions are falling in the South, the situation remains serious. Intensive care capacity has been surged to 32 beds of which 31 are occupied and almost all patients on ventilators. Other Surrey hospitals have been sending people out of the county but the Royal Surrey has not had to do this - indeed it is taking patients from other Surrey hospitals (and has treated some from Kent). However, if demand continues increasing there is a risk of urgent cancer surgery having to be delayed. For a more detailed update, please check out my Facebook page ([link removed]) . The overall message is that they are doing a magnificent job keeping their head above water - just - in the most testing of circumstances.

‘COVID & ME’ CAMPAIGN Surrey County Council has launched a campaign investigating the impact of COVID-19 on Surrey residents. The Council has teamed up with Peter Gordon, a renowned local broadcaster, to bring you real life stories from people who have suffered from the disease. The Council will be posting short videos on social media – here is Chris ([link removed]) describing his experience. Thank you Chris for reminding everyone that young people are at risk of COVID-19 too.

LOCAL HEROES Today’s South West Surrey Hero is Haslemere Homecare. Congratulations to the team where care staff have been working determinedly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, looking after our local elderly community in their own homes. Thank you for your hard work – your commitment is incredible. Well deserved!

FARNHAM FALCONS Some good news from the Chairman & County Recorder of the Hampshire Ornithological Society, Keith Betton. Due to pesticides and persecution, Peregrine Falcons became one of our rarest birds but they have recovered and a few are now in Surrey. I might get in trouble for releasing personal information but I’m told that one of the chicks has relocated to St Andrew’s Church in Farnham.

CLARIFICATION For the avoidance of doubt, following my email on Monday, I want to clarify that the Farnham vaccination centre (at the hospital) and the Farnham testing centre (in Mike Hawthorn Drive) are not walk-in centres. You need an appointment so please do not turn up without one for which you will contacted by the NHS. Apologies for any confusion.

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

THE ECONOMY AND JOBS

INFLATION UP Recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) data ([link removed]) shows that UK inflation doubled to 0.6% in December, up from 0.3% in November. Rising clothing and transport costs pushed up inflation. Jonathan Athow, ONS’s statistician, stated: ‘clothing prices put upward pressure on inflation in December, despite some evidence of continued discounting. Transport costs, including air, sea and coach fares, as well as petrol prices, rose as some travel restrictions eased during parts of the month.’ We will have to wait a month to find out if there has been a Brexit effect.

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?

BOTOX FOR CLOTHES If you dislike ironing as much as I do, keep reading. People have shared a hack ([link removed]) that will mean you’ll never need an ironing board post-lockdown ever again – and there’s only one thing you need… an ice cube. Apparently (and that’s the key word) if you chuck a few ice cubes in the tumble dryer alongside your shirts, they’ll come out wrinkle free. Thank me later and have an ice day…

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Promoted by Sean Donovan-Smith on behalf of Jeremy Hunt MP and South West Surrey Conservatives, all at 2 Royal Parade, Tilford Road, Hindhead, Surrey GU26 6TD.

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