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GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my regular South West Surrey update No. 138. If you’ve been forwarded this email and find it useful sign up to get your personal copy here. ([link removed]) You can of course unsubscribe at any time.

PANDEMIC STATS LATEST As of today, we had a total of 4,487,339 positive cases of COVID-19 with 127,782 confirmed deaths in the UK. There have been 5,890 confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 246 confirmed deaths, with an estimated 38 active cases in Waverley. All data is accurate as of 11am this morning.

DELTA DISASTER? The Indian variant has now been renamed as the Delta variant and there is a very lively debate about whether its exponential growth means we should now delay the 21 June opening. Many are making comparisons to the late lockdown decisions made last Spring and Autumn but the key difference this time is the vaccine rollout: has the fact that nearly half of adults have had two doses (and nearly three quarters one dose) broken the link between new cases and hospitalisations/deaths? As ever there are powerful arguments on both sides: those keen to press on with the June 21 opening point to the still low hospitalisation rates in the Delta hotspots like Bolton (and the fact that they are mainly those who have not had the vaccine). Those arguing for caution, who appear to be getting the upper hand, point to low efficacy rates against the new strain after only one dose (just 33%) vs 60%/88% efficacy (for AZ/Pfizer respectively) after two doses. If it is just a matter of a few weeks to
get everyone double dosed is it not worth the wait? What seems to be tipping the argument is the impact on the NHS, not so much of new COVID-19 patients but on non-COVID patients who would once again see their treatment interrupted by another wave of hospital admissions. Chris Hopson of NHS Providers has a typically insightful take here ([link removed]) and here is my question to Matt Hancock ([link removed]) last week on the topic.

VACCINE UPDATE 66,480+ people in South West Surrey have now been vaccinated with at least one dose and around 36,782 have had the second. Nationally, 25 million second doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been administered ([link removed]) - a remarkable achievement. The latest R range for England is 1.0 to 1.1 and in the last seven days the UK: coronavirus cases ⬆️28.8%, hospital admissions ⬆️23.2%, and deaths ⬆️45%.

JABULOUS JANSSEN Last week the one-jab COVID-19 Janssen vaccine was approved by the MHRA ([link removed]) after it met the expected standards of safety, quality, and effectiveness. As reported in my update No. 124, the government already pre-ordered 30m doses last summer. The shot made by Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals was found to be 66% effective ([link removed]) back in January. Congrats to everyone involved in the creation and procurement processes which could be particularly important for developing countries where the logistics of only having to jab people once are a godsend.

COPA & COVID The COPA America is set to be hosted by Brazil ([link removed]) for the second time in a row after the South American football body CONMEBOL confirmed that Argentina cannot host the tournament following an increase in coronavirus cases. Back in Mid-May, Colombia was removed as co-hosts amid political chaos. The games will commence on June 13. But nothing like the palpitations in Japan at the moment where the Olympics look set to continue ([link removed]) despite the overwhelming opposition of the Japanese people.

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

WESTMINSTER WEEK It won’t have escaped your notice that I had a busy week interviewing Dominic Cummings last week. You can see some highlights here ([link removed]) where (less dramatically) I also talk to Dr Claire Fuller, head of NHS Surrey Heartlands, about the success of the local vaccination programme where we are heading for one million jabs in Surrey.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY

CHID DOUBLE DOSE 1 Local horse riders have been very concerned that a bridleway in Chiddingfold has been closed for two months now. I have written to Katie Stewart (Head of Highways at Surrey) to ask why the works are taking so long and when riders can realistically expect it to be accessible again.

CHID DOUBLE DOSE 2 I have now heard back from Surrey Highways and ASL regarding the road closures. Surrey Highways have assured me that the surface dressing works on Pockford Road/Vann Lane should have been concluded now and therefore there will be no cross-over with ASL's sewer connection works (commencing on 01/06). Let me know if this is not the case. With regards to concerns about ASL's works on Skinners Lane, which seem to have been licensed under a s50, ASL have reassured me that the entire length of Skinners Lane won't be closed off, only a small section of the road outside one property, acting as a 'no through road'. All other properties will be accessible via the diversion, but no vehicles will be able to pass through the closed section of the road due to it being an open excavation across the full width of the road.

HOUSEHOLD WASTE Waverley Borough Council has politely asked residents to properly dispose of any hazardous waste following an incident involving a bin lorry in the Cranleigh region last week. Items that should not go into general rubbish bins include batteries, electrical items, liquid paint, asbestos, gas canisters, and trade waste. Thanks for your cooperation.

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

THE ECONOMY AND JOBS

ECONOMIC RECOVERY The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) predicts that the UK will grow 7.2% this year, up from its March projection of 5.1% ([link removed]) . The good news is that our economic growth is on course to be the fastest among the big wealthy nations, although we could suffer more longer-term economic disruption ([link removed]) than our G7 partners due to Brexit. To be confirmed.

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON

DEMENTIA DRUG The Alzheimer’s drug, Aducanumab, which has been shown to slow cognitive decline in patients could be available on the NHS in the next year. More info here ([link removed]) . When I was Health Secretary I doubled dementia research funding and set out a plan to make the UK the most dementia-friendly country in the world ([link removed]) so this really would be wonderful news for so many families. Fingers crossed - but we will need social care reform to make my plan come true (sorry to be a cracked record on this but…).

GOOD WEATHER Yesterday was the hottest day of the year ([link removed]) so far, according to meteorologists, with the temperature reaching 24.6 °C in Kinloss in Scotland. I hope the good weather lasts. I drought it will…(sorry about that one).

AND FINALLY, congratulations to the newlyweds, Mr and Mrs Johnson – wishing you much happiness and a quick end to the pandemic. Photos looked lovely. It’s parliamentary recess this week, so see you next Monday!
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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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