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GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my South West Surrey update No.167 Despite a rather concerning start to the week, Christmas is on! And indeed many more can enjoy it as the self-isolation period has been reduced, as well as the Chancellor announcing a £1bn boost for the hospitality sector. That and much else in today’s bumper final email of the year…

PANDEMIC UPDATE As of 6.11pm last night, we have had a total of 11,647,473 positive cases of COVID-19 with 147,573 confirmed deaths in the UK. There have been 19,860 confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 252 confirmed deaths, with an estimated 1,391 active cases in Waverley. In the last week in the UK coronavirus cases are up 58.9%, hospital admissions up 2.3% and deaths down 2.7%. Given that all 11 Surrey boroughs are in the top 100 in the country for Covid cases, please do wear masks and remember to take that lateral flow test on Christmas morning before you visit older and more vulnerable relatives.

TO LOCKDOWN OR NOT TO LOCKDOWN? I remain cautiously optimistic that despite the hydra-like return of a new variant the worst of the pandemic is behind us - and yesterday’s news thatOmicron has lower hospitalisation rates than Delta ([link removed]) is genuinely encouraging. But the risks to the NHS in the next few months are real. According to Chris Whitty’s briefing to me and other MPs on Tuesday, we are now averaging over 90,000 new cases a day, 70% of which are thought to be Omicron. The good news is that more than half of over 12s have been boosted and Guildford, Waverley and Frimley have some of the highest vaccination rates in the country so our overall immunity is much higher than last year.

HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS This is the key metric to watch. Even if Omicron is less virulent (which seems likely) the NHS will start to buckle if admissions start to rise beyond this January’s peak of around 4,000 a day. With a more transmissible variant, some vaccine escape and so many unvaccinated this remains possible - as can be seen from London, the Omicron epicentre, where daily hospital admissions are up by 40% in a week. Current modelling suggests daily admissions will exceed 3,000 a day but not necessarily the crucial 4,000 limit so we may still be OK. Sensible scientists like Professor Paul Hunter and Sir Jeremy Farrar, who have previously not held back in criticising the government, both said it is perfectly reasonable to defer making any decision until the picture becomes clearer. But be prepared!

WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER

CHRISTMAS IS ON You could almost hear the nation breathe a sigh of relief, when after a torrid period for Downing Street, the PM announced that no further restrictions will be implemented prior to Christmas ([link removed]) in light of the spread of Omicron. Clearly this doesn’t rule out the possibility of further restrictions ahead of the New Year. Many will be looking apprehensively at both Scotland ([link removed]) and Wales’ ([link removed]) recent announcements to bring in additional restrictions from Boxing Day.

SELF ISOLATION REDUCED ([link removed](COVID%2D19)-,Self%2Disolation%20for%20COVID%2D19%20cases%20reduced%20from%2010%20to,7%20days%2C%20in%20most%20cases.) Yesterday, Sajid Javid announced that after receiving advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) ([link removed]) , the self-isolation period for people (regardless of their vaccination status) who contract COVID in England, will be reduced from 10 days to 7 days if you test negative on a lateral flow test on day 6 and day 7. Not only will this decision ([link removed]) mean that many more families can be together over Christmas this year (including my nephew), but it will also allow employees across several sectors to get back to work as soon as possible including most importantly the NHS.

£1BN BOOST The Chancellor has also announced a £30m top-up to the Cultural Recovery Fund ([link removed]) alongside the £1bn boost for the hospitality and leisure sectors, ([link removed]) with businesses most impacted by Omicron able to claim a one time cash grant of £6,000. This was a sensible move in order to support the many establishments (particularly pubs and restaurants) at what is usually one of their busiest times of the year. Roughly 200,00 businesses will be eligible for this grant, which will be overseen by local authorities in the next few weeks. For more information and to find out if your business in South West Surrey is eligible, click here. ([link removed])

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY

COVID PASS FRAUD I’ve recently been contacted by several local residents raising the issue of Covid Pass scams ([link removed]) which seem to be circulating, so here are some public service facts to help!

* The NHS App is FREE
* The NHS Covid Pass is FREE
* The NHS will NEVER ask for payment or any financial details
* The NHS will NEVER issue fines or penalties relating to your NHS Covid Pass

CAPITAL PROJECTS A healthy dose of Christmas cheer for the Farnham-based University of Creative Arts ([link removed]) this week, who have been successful in their bid to the Office for Students for 2021/22 Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) ([link removed]) capital funding - congratulations! The capital projects being delivered by UCA will directly help to achieve these ambitions and support the government's priority to Build Back Better ([link removed]) by supporting education and employment with increased opportunities across the country.

REDUCING SINGLE USE PLASTICS After COP26, a lot of people have been asking what they can do personally to reduce environmental damage - with particular interest in the issue of single use plastics. England uses 1.1 billion single-use plates and 4.25 billion items of single-use cutlery — most of which are plastic — per year, but only 10% are recycled upon disposal. The government is considering banning the use of single use plastic ([link removed]) plates, cutlery, balloon sticks and polystyrene food containers which I strongly support - so I was really pleased to meet representatives from the Rotary Clubs of Farnham ([link removed]) , Haslemere ([link removed]) and Godalming ([link removed]) (Woolsack) who are throwing their weight behind the initiative. We can all play our part in this not least by
responding tothis consultation ([link removed]) by 12th Feb saying you support it!

SURREY HILLS BOUNDARY EXTENSION Earlier this month following requests from me and others, NaturalEngland called for evidence ([link removed]) from the public to help it decide if areas currently outside the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) should be designated. It is asking for your support in gathering evidence as to whether these areas have sufficient outstanding natural beauty to be included in an extended AONB - the answer of course is yes they do! So please help us win this battle by finding the map of evaluation areas here ([link removed]) , and theevidence gathering survey here ([link removed]) and writing in with your support (also let me know so I can include your response in my official one). AONB areas get the same legal protections as
national parks so this is well worth fighting for.

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). See my list of local groups working to support vulnerable residents here.

AND FINALLY - If you have driven past the amazing phone box in Compton, you won’t forget it… but it is actually raising money for a great cause. This year is the 50th anniversary of the Crisis Christmas Centres ([link removed]) , and they have done an amazing job stopping people being homeless and alone over Christmas. If you feel able, please make a donation. ([link removed])

Wishing you all a very Merry, happy & health holiday period - we’ll catch up in 2022!

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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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