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GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my regular South West Surrey update No. 103. As of today, we have a total of 3,647,463 positive cases of COVID-19 with 97,939 confirmed deaths in the UK. There have been 5,060 confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 179 confirmed deaths, with an estimated 737 active cases in Waverley, a small but significant decrease from last week. All data is accurate as of 11am this morning.

IS LOCKDOWN WORKING? Yesterday the Health Secretary said that there are early signs that the national lockdown is working. Is he right? Well, in London the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital declined by 11% in five days ([link removed]) . In the South East and East regions the number of COVID-19 patients is also falling, albeit more slowly. However, the NHS continues to be under serious pressure with 72% more coronavirus patients in our hospital than at the peak of the first wave last year. The bad news is that the new UK COVID-19 variant could be more deadly than the original strain but better news is that we now have some evidence that our current vaccines (Pfizer and Oxford) work against the new UK mutant. My concern is that the current lockdown measures are just not working fast enough in what is a race before the
Brazilian and South African strains become established in the UK as they surely will. I would therefore like to see medical grade FFP2 respirator masks made compulsory ([link removed]) in shops and public transport, something I discussed in an interview in the Observer ([link removed]) yesterday. Another big issue we surely need to sort out is that only about a quarter of those with symptoms are currently self-isolating for the full 10 days.

VACCINE STATS As of yesterday an extraordinary 6,353,321 people in total have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the UK - only Israel (which has now closed Ben Gurion Airport ([link removed]) amid mutation fears) and the UAE have vaccinated more people per capita. Nationally, ¾ of over 80s have now received a COVID-19 vaccine dose. More locally, by the end of last week 62,707 people had received the first dose in Surrey Heartlands (covering Godalming and Haslemere), around 60% of people over 80 years of age. In Frimley (covering Farnham), over 50,000 doses have been delivered (70%+ of over 80s).

ON TRACK The Health Secretary has confirmed that we are on track to vaccinate the priority cohorts 1-4 by 15 February (residents in care homes, over 80s, frontline health and social care workers, over 75s, over 70s and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals). This is made possible because we are now vaccinating at 206 Hospital hubs, 1000 GP-led services, 993 Local Vaccination Services and 17 Mass Vaccination sites ([link removed]) . Last week the government announced a further 60 new vaccination sites being opened across cinemas and religious places of worship. This is excellent news and if all goes to plan, everyone will live within 10 miles of a centre by the end of the week.

TESTING TIMES From testing just 2,000 people a day in March last year, we have built the largest diagnostic network in British history. As of 21 January, we have a capacity for over 817,000 tests per day and have one of the best testing rates globally - even outperforming countries such as Germany. This is a big improvement but moving forward we must ensure that coronavirus test results are delivered within 24 hours to keep up with the spread of infections.

CALL ME JOE On Saturday Boris got a call ([link removed]) from the newly inaugurated President Joe Biden. Boris was the first European leader to be called by Biden (who has clearly hired good advisors... Merkel who?). The pair are set to work constructively through the G7, G20 and COP26 this year. Topics of discussion included a shared love of trains (weirdly), COVID-19, defence, climate change, trade and world domination (well maybe not the last one but you never know).

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?

NOT A HEADLINE GRABBER BUT SHOULD BE Last week the government launched the Skills for Jobs White Paper ([link removed]) in order to transform post-16 education. This got rather lost with the pandemic and a new American President but will hopefully be the start of a massively important improvement to our state education system. The best state schools are now as good as the best private ones after years of painful reforms going right the way back to Ken Clarke, but we still don’t do enough for the 50% of school leavers who do not go to university (including a shocking 100,000 who leave every year unable to read properly). Happy International Education Day (which it also happens to be).

HOUSING The Housing Minister has reaffirmed his commitment to ‘build more, better and greener homes in the right places.’ Increasing the number of up-to-date Local Plans across the country is vital if we are to deliver one million homes over this Parliament. The good news is that 9 in 10 local planning authorities have now adopted a Local Plan including of course Waverley.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY?

FARNHAM PROJECT BOARD On Friday Surrey leader Tim Oliver chaired the Farnham Project Board which is the key committee taking forward traffic and infrastructure changes. An enormously detailed infrastructure plan has been put together, painstakingly taking into account the priorities and concerns of Farnham residents and I have to say I was very impressed (having seen a few of these things in my time). Some key things were agreed, namely that we should press ahead with trying to re-route the A325 so it goes along the A31 and not through the town centre. We also agreed to include Wrecclesham Hill in the possible areas to move to a 20mph speed limit and discussed plans to reduce pollution and traffic problems ([link removed]) in the town centre which I am very keen should go ahead sooner rather than later. Altogether there is a lot of momentum around this with excellent cross party working but also strong and committed leadership from Surrey leader Tim Oliver. Next steps will be
to publish the plans for formal local consultation and then the thorny issue of raising funds.

GODALMING AND VILLAGES COMMUNITY STORE continues its amazing work as I found out talking out to organiser Patrick Andre this afternoon. As the pandemic continues the demographic of those using the store (which provides free food and provisions to those in need) is changing with many more families accessing its services - and many more expected to when the furlough scheme eventually ends. They welcome donations, either financial or product, details on here ([link removed]) .

SWIFT360 Last week I had a telephone meeting with Vern James, the Managing Director of PPE supplier SWIFT360. They are very busy during the pandemic but want to do their bit for the local community by offering their staff as volunteers. If your organisation could do with a little volunteer help please contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) , who I’m sure will reply SWIFTly…

LOCAL HEROES Today’s South West Surrey Hero is the Binscombe Medical Centre. Congratulations to Emma Phillips, the Practice Manager and the entire team. Despite the enormity of challenges faced by the practice in responding to COVID-19, they really have done a fantastic job looking after patients in Farncombe, Binscombe and Godalming. I also remember them giving me excellent advice when I was Health Secretary - thank you for your brilliant work.

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

THE ECONOMY AND JOBS

WHEEL BE OK Last week Nissan committed to keep making cars in Sunderland ([link removed]) … ‘despite Brexit’ (remember that phrase?). Nissan's chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta stated that the Brexit deal ‘has created a competitive environment for Sunderland, not just inside the UK but outside as well.’ Good for Nissan, one of our most loyal overseas investors.

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?

OF MICE AND MEN Some good news for the 5.4m people worldwide suffering from paralysis. German researchers have successfully used gene therapy to regenerate damaged spinal cord nerves in paralyzed mice ([link removed]) . The rodents were able to walk just two weeks after treatment. Next step: human clinical trials! Very mice work - gene-ius some would say…

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