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GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my regular South West Surrey update No. 106. As of today, we have a total of 3,871,825 positive cases of COVID-19 with 109,335 confirmed deaths in the UK. There have been 5,369 confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 216 confirmed deaths, with an estimated 779 active cases in Waverley. All data is accurate as of 11am this morning.

PANDEMIC LATEST The number of people testing positive for coronavirus is steadily going down across the country and this is finally feeding through into hospital admissions, down a quarter in the last week. But pressure on the NHS is still eye-watering and the emergence of new mutations and variants (home grown as well as from abroad) is injecting real uncertainty. Good news this week though because a new study has demonstrated that the Oxford vaccine delivers strong protection after the first jab and may cut transmission by 67% ([link removed]) , strongly supporting the government’s policy for a 12-week prime-boost interval. We are now seeing increasing evidence that the vaccines are effective in reducing deaths and serious illness even from the new variants (to date). In sadder news, yesterday we honoured Captain Sir Tom Moore who passed away this week. We thank him for inspiring a
nation in dark times ([link removed]) . Locally we lost our own inspiring centenarian Peggy MacFarlane, former Mayor of Godalming and dearly beloved by many across the political spectrum.

VACCINE UPDATE As of yesterday a brilliant 10,021,471 people in total have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the UK, including 931,204 jabs over the last weekend alone. In other words, that’s 1 in every 60 adults in the UK vaccinated in a single weekend. 9 in 10 of all those over 80 and over 50% of those in their 70s are now vaccinated. The latest local Surrey stats will be in my next e-mail - and again things looking very encouraging. In the meantime, check out my Herald article ([link removed]) on the latest important developments in the vaccine rollout. My article also asks whether we should now make this year as significant for the social care system as 1948 was for the NHS. Here ([link removed]) is my question to Matt Hancock on this earlier in the week.

MENTAL HEALTH Love Island Star Dr Alex George has been appointed Youth Mental Health Ambassador ([link removed]) by the PM. He will be working closely with the Children’s Minister, Vicky Ford MP and Universities Minister, Michelle Donelan MP to improve mental health in our schools, colleges and universities. We all know that the pandemic has had a huge effect on young people and their mental health so this appointment is very welcome, especially considering Alex himself lost his little brother to suicide. My Health Select Committee is also currently calling for evidence ([link removed]) on improving children and young people's mental health services in England so please do submit your views and suggestions – we would love to hear from you. Not watched Love Island? How very Surrey…but 3 million Brits do so Alex’s involvement will have huge reach. For a
flavour of the programme click here ([link removed]) to watch the contestants discuss Brexit…

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 SAFETY On Tuesday the Health committee questioned Minister Nadine Dorries and other NHS England maternity leaders on patient safety failings. Watch me ask Nadine whether the government will fill the 3,000 gap we have in midwife provision ([link removed]) and if our current system of compensation for baby harm is morally defensible ([link removed]) . Nadine’s responses were refreshingly frank - good to have a minister who really cares about this vital issue.

20,000 people who are asked to quarantine are still out and about spreading the virus every day. Click here ([link removed]) to see Baroness Harding go through the maths with me and confirm this shocking statistic. As I’ve said like a cracked record we must offer to make good any salary lost from self-isolation – surely this must be the biggest gap in our pandemic containment strategy right now.

BURMA/MYANMAR The news that the military has seized power in Myanmar and detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other government figures is very troubling. I of course join the PM and Foreign Secretary in condemnation of recent developments. When I was Foreign Secretary I met Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, although I can’t say I had a smooth relationship with her. There are genuine concerns about her condoning of genocide of Rohingya people by the Burmese military in Rakhine province but we should stand behind her none the less as I wrote about in the Telegraph ([link removed]) yesterday.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY?

BINSCOMBE MEDICAL CENTRE is making good progress with its vaccination rollout. It is currently inviting the 70–74 year-old age group together with the younger (shielding) Group 4 patients for vaccination. The centre is, however, asking any older patients (or their family member) to contact the surgery on 01483 415115 if they have not yet received their jab. More information and vaccine news can be found on their website: www.Binscombe.net.

REVD CHRIS BESSANT told me this morning how keen he is to get St Christopher’s reopened, as we all are. He said - sadly - that the number of deaths is still very high and feels worse than the first wave. Thank you to him and his team for their great work for the community over this period.

ROWING SOLO Local Haslemere man Rob Hamilton arrived in Antigua yesterday after rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic to raise money ([link removed]) for the Invictus Games Foundation and Collateral Repair Project. What a remarkable achievement. It’s not too late to contribute and help Rob reach his £50k target.

LOCAL HEROES Today’s South West Surrey Hero is Right at Home who have been organising a number of things including helping vulnerable people with their shopping in Farnham. Congratulations to Alastair and his team who set up several voluntary services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Friends of Right at Home have done well over 1,000 shopping trips…and their care team received an outstanding CQC rating. On behalf of the Farnham community thank you.

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

THE ECONOMY AND JOBS

HELLO SMALL BUSINESSES If you are still open for business during lockdown (online, delivery, click and collect etc), let me know if I can help promote you through my social media pages. To join my SWS Bounceback campaign and be featured on my Facebook and Instagram pages, please email me at [email protected] with a few lines about your business and how you are operating in lockdown, as well as your social media handles and/or website links. A pic would also help if you have a good one.

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?

BUG OFF Have you ever wondered who would win in a small spider vs very big insect fight? No, me neither to be honest…but it’s lockdown so here is a webcast ([link removed]) (literally) anyway of a spider lifting a cockroach 50 times its mass. Not all scientists focused on COVID-19 it would appear…

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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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