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GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my regular South West Surrey update No. 142. 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 As of today, we had a total of 4,589,814 positive cases of COVID-19 with 127,926 confirmed deaths in the UK. There have been 5,961 confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 239 confirmed deaths, with an estimated 182 active cases in Waverley. All data is accurate as of 11am this morning.

BAD NEWS There is disappointment but not surprise that the lifting of lockdown has been delayed by four weeks. Last night the regulations passed the House of Commons with Labour support - but eyebrows raised at the LibDems who inexplicably (given their previous position) decided to vote against them. In his press conference, the Prime Minister highlighted that coronavirus cases are growing 64% a week and doubling every week in the worst affected regions ([link removed]) . Although the UK now has the dubious record as having the highest number of daily infections in Europe, occupancy of NHS beds remains low at just 1% of the total so it really is difficult to call - as evidenced by the Telegraph ([link removed]) talking about summer holidays being back on.

BETTER NEWS Public Health England has confirmed that the vaccines remain highly effective against the Delta variant. After two doses, the Pfizer vaccine is 96% effective against hospitalisation, while the AZ jab is 92% effective ([link removed]) . Delaying Step 4 means two-thirds of the population (and 80% of adults) will be double jabbed which makes sense. In other news, anyone aged 21+ can get jabbed ([link removed]) which is fantastic and more controversially, COVID-19 vaccinations are now compulsory for all care home staff ([link removed]) . I discussed this and other themes with Robert Peston last night – watch here ([link removed]) .

HOW REVERSIBLE IS IRREVERSIBLE? I am a little concerned that government rhetoric is unhelpfully raising expectations, particularly the use of the word ‘irreversible.’ This week Sir Patrick Vallance stated that we will be living with COVID-19 forever ([link removed]) . Hear my question to Matt Hancock about whether we are getting the language wrong and his reply here ([link removed]) .

COMMITTEE DRAMA In the last two weeks we have had two bumper Select Committee grillings with Dominic Cummings and Matt Hancock. There was more melodrama than normal. Yesterday’s new Cummings tweets show the Prime Minister’s frustration with Matt Hancock (hardly surprising in a pandemic) but do not - as things stand - prove anyone 'lied'. Personal accusations are of course the most media-friendly but should not expose the much more serious failures in the functioning of the state in a national emergency, including key revelations about both scientific advice/herd immunity and Test and Trace. My full Twitter thread on thoughts so far here ([link removed]) and my Herald article on the same topic here ([link removed]) .

NEW COVID TREATMENT Exactly one year ago yesterday, British scientists found that Dexamethasone reduces mortality in patients with COVID-19 ([link removed]) . Yesterday, a new life-saving drug was discovered ([link removed]) by the same team which could help one in three people hospitalised with the disease. The monoclonal antibody cocktail was produced by Regeneron and consists of Casirivimab and Imdevimab. More about the ongoing RECOVERY trial here ([link removed]) .

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

G7 & SOCIAL CARE Germany and Japan have taken the plunge with bold social care reforms - will we? Yesterday I asked Boris Johnson - without great hope - whether he spoke to Chancellor Merkel and Prime Minister Suga at the G7 in Cornwall about their successful social care reforms. His rather surprising answer here ([link removed]) . I look forward to my catch-up with him…

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY

SOCIAL DISTANCING Some of the social distancing measures in the centre of Farnham are to be removed to deal with the horrific traffic jams that many of you have written to me about. The ‘orcas’ in the Borough will now go but remain in Downing Street and Castle Street. Retaining some measures is sensible to help shoppers get around safely and encourage people back to the town with confidence.

FRENSHAM MESS Frensham Ponds is a wonderful place so it was a great shame to hear that last weekend there were an astonishing 3,000+ cars (many parked illegally), 36 fires/BBQs extinguished, 35 bags of litter picked up (+ 10 x 1100lt bins and half a skip of additional rubbish), seven toilets unblocked, and 16 illegal paddleboards/unauthorised watercraft. Four Waverley staff were verbally abused and one was assaulted which is totally and utterly unacceptable. A lot of effort is now happening to resolve the situation so many thanks to Waverley and Surrey County Councils, the police, Guildford Parking Enforcement, and the National Trust. There will now be additional security and enforcement officers at the site but we all need to play our part to keep a lovely area, well lovely. Surrey article here ([link removed]) .

RUBBISH NEWS Residents in Godalming have pointed out that the food waste bins have not been emptied recently or simply left half full. I raised the matter with Richard Homewood at Waverley Borough Council who says this is because some of the refuse crew have been affected by COVID and it has not always been possible to get them replaced. When they are they sometimes don’t know the area as well so miss some of the harder to find properties. Let’s hope things improve soon.

TESTING CHAOS A number of people are finding navigating the tests required to travel to a ‘green’ country a total nightmare. Yesterday I spoke to Ross Lovelock from Hindhead who described what happened to him on a trip to Portugal. Flying out he had to take a drive-in PCR test at Heathrow (£118 for two). Flying back he had to prove he had booked and paid for a PCR test for two days after his return (another £118 for two) but the reference code was not recognised on the Passenger Locator Form so he had to buy it from another company which was again rejected and then a third company which was finally accepted (although the test did not arrive for five days in the end). This government guidance ([link removed]) may be useful but there are clearly teething problems which I have raised with Grant Shapps.

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

THE ECONOMY AND JOBS

EVICTION BANS The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Barclay has extended a ban on landlords evicting companies for unpaid rent for a further nine months until March 2022. However, the Treasury Secretary stressed that all renters should start to make payments again in accordance with their agreements as soon as possible. More information here ([link removed]) .

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON

MENTAL HEALTH In my newsletter last week I mentioned that the UK now has four of the world’s top ten universities. Worth mentioning, however, that there is still a big need to improve mental health support at universities. My Health and Social Care Select Committee is currently examining what more can be done to prevent suicide and self-harm among young people ([link removed]) . Check out mental health campaigner Ben West’s powerful Twitter thread here ([link removed]) .

FAMILY GUY RIP to the man thought to be head of the world's biggest family. Ziona Chana from India had 39 wives, 94 children and 33 grandchildren... I kid you not. Lovely family photo here ([link removed]) .
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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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