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GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my regular South West Surrey update No 121. As of today, we had a total of 4,333,042 positive cases of COVID-19 with 126,592 confirmed deaths in the UK. There have been 5,781 confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 243 confirmed deaths, with an estimated 61 active cases in Waverley, a slight uptick. All data is accurate as of 11am this morning.

48,000 PEOPLE IN SOUTH WEST SURREY have been vaccinated with at least one dose, with over 30m inoculated nationally. Remarkably, 95% of people aged 65+ have now been immunised with their first jab and is the main reason why today restrictions are being cautiously lifted - nice to see local golf courses already busy this morning as I drove to Guildford. In the last week: coronavirus cases ⬇️1.7%, hospital admissions ⬇️20.8%, and deaths ⬇️31.7%. The estimated R number is between 0.7 to 0.9 in England ([link removed]) , slightly up probably due to the opening of schools. But encouragingly Israel now has a fully open economy, roughly 83% of the adult population vaccinated with one dose and an R that continues to decrease, now at 0.55, the lowest ever. Click here ([link removed]) to learn more about what we are allowed to do from today.

ASTRAZENECA IS A GREAT BRITISH COMPANY and should get more credit for forgoing all profits from its vaccine. Lots of people agree with me judging by the 4000 likes I got for this tweet ([link removed]) and I think we are very lucky it is run by a quirky, ethical Frenchman Pascal Soriot who has proudly made the UK his home. I worked closely with Pascal when I was Health Secretary and it was always a pleasure and fun - not something you would say about every pharma CEO. Some may remember there was a time when Pfizer wanted to take over AstraZeneca but Soriot saved the firm ([link removed]) - thank goodness as we now have not one but two excellent COVID-19 jabs.

SOCIAL CARE Thursday’s National Audit Office (NAO) report ([link removed]) on social care should stop us all in our tracks. In the next two decades, taxpayer-funded care costs for older people are set to rise by 106%, with overall social care costs set to increase from £28bn to £56bn ([link removed]) . These are eye-watering sums that mean doing nothing is simply not an option. We have known about the demographic time-bomb coming down the track for years but this really is the year to fix it and after the heroic work by care workers in the last year then when are we? So I was delighted that the PM committed to a ten-year plan for social care this year ([link removed]) at the Liaison Committee last week following a year of lobbying by me and others. He even indicated we’ll see something on this in the Queen’s Speech. We eagerly await the details, and will hold the govt to it...

SHIELDING ADVICE WILL CEASE FOR 3.8M clinically extremely vulnerable people from Thursday 1 April 2021. If you are on the shielded patient list, you should have received a letter with updated guidance ([link removed]) . Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, Dr Jenny Harries, stated: ‘with the prevalence of the virus in the community continuing to decrease now is the right time for people to start thinking about easing up on these more rigid guidelines. If you have been shielding, we strongly urge you to take extra precautions following 1 April to keep yourself as safe as possible, such as continuing to observe social distancing and working from home.’

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 FUTURE OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACIES On Friday I conducted a fascinating Chatham House interview with 97-year-old Henry Kissinger, still with razor sharp insights on many issues including China, democracy in America and Brexit. Here’s ([link removed]) his answer to whether liberal internationalism can flourish in the 21st century or whether the rise of China means we will return to realpolitik. At some stage in the next decade the Chinese economy will overtake the US economy - perhaps as soon as 2028. I therefore asked what impact will that simple fact have on the international order? ([link removed]) My next question was on how can America be a shining city on the hill when a mob is able to rampage and break its way into Congress? Here is his reply. ([link removed]) Was he worried about the frosty first meeting in Anchorage between US and Chinese top diplomats? My question and his answer here ([link removed]) . For more clips, check out
my Facebook page ([link removed]) , including on why he declined to campaign alongside his remain friends in the Brexit referendum ([link removed]) . Worth a watch as he really is one of the wisest and most experienced diplomats alive today.

A MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY ACTION PLAN backed by £500m was announced on Saturday to further support people with mental illnesses ([link removed]) such as anxiety, depression, bipolar, and schizophrenia. The scheme will mean an expansion in mental health services so that everyone can access mental health support as required and will specifically target those most affected by the pandemic (like frontline staff and young people).

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY

THE LOCKDOWN POETRY FESTIVAL in Farnham was a great success. Congratulations to John Littlewood for winning the competition with his poem ‘Two Lockdowns A Lifetime Apart’ and thank you to the Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale for organising. You can read and listen to the poems here ([link removed]) which is well worth doing.

THE NATIONAL TRUST has released two beavers into a 15 hectare fenced area on the edge of the South Downs, close to Haslemere. A male and female have been re-introduced, in the hope they will like each other in nature’s inimitable way. I’m not sure if they have names yet, but I will have to introduce them to our new puppy Poppy who went for her first ever walk on Black Down yesterday.

THE FARNHAM DUCK RACE will go ahead virtually on 1st May and will be aired on YouTube. The tickets are £2 and can be purchased here ([link removed]) , with all money raised going to charity.

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

THE ECONOMY AND JOBS

SUEZ BLOCKAGE The Ever Given ship has been partly freed, but is still blocking the Suez canal ([link removed]) , and over 300 ships are stuck as a result. The canal is one of the busiest trade routes globally, with 12% of international trade moving through it. The blockage is costing a staggering $400m an hour in trade.

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON

SWS WAS CROWNED BEST PLACE TO LIVE in the South East. Thank you the Times ([link removed]) but we already knew. Click here ([link removed]) for the article which recites all the reasons we are so lucky - a good Monday morale booster if you missed it.

DRINK COFFEE BEFORE WORKOUT TO LOSE FAT say Spanish scientists at the University of Granada. The lead author Amaro-Gahet, commented: ‘the results of our study showed that acute caffeine ingestion 30 minutes before performing an aerobic exercise test increased maximum fat oxidation during exercise ([link removed]) .’ For some reason, the effect was ‘stronger in the afternoon than the morning’ - better latte than never...

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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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