Filey MP sets out his timeline for easing of coronavirus restrictions
The MP for Filey has set out his timeline for the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
The MP for Filey has set out his timeline for the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
It is as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to lay out later this month his road map of coming out of lockdown.
Kevin Hollinrake said:
"We'll see schools re-open on the 8th of March; it hasn't been confirmed yet but I think we'll see more social contact allowed outside your own household probably towards the end of March, and hopefully the re-opening of the hospitality sector around then, with hopefully a wider opening in April/May time.
"We certainly seem to be moving in the right direction but life is very uncertain as some things have happened in the last few months, particularly these new strains of the Kent strain and the South African strain so it's a mixed picture, but the really good part of this is the vaccine roll-out which is incredibly effective and efficient.
"I think the Kent and South African strains are more significant variants but I think what seems to be the evidence and the studies that I've read, not peer reviewed yet, but the one that was carried out on 1,500 people I think, the vaccines are effective and are still effective at controlling or preventing serious illness. I can only think that must be a good thing.
"It seems to me that if you allow a very mild version of the virus to spread, it just gives you a bit like a cold, it would also help to provide some natural immunity as well as the vaccine immunity. So I think there's reasons to be optimistic although we've got to be very, very watchful and careful."