Scarborough and Whitby MP still confident in restrictions easing
The MP for Scarborough and Whitby says he is still confident restrictions will be eased later this month.
The MP for Scarborough and Whitby says he is still confident restrictions will be eased later this month.
Robert Goodwill has been reacting to calls from Government experts to delay the final relaxation date beyond the 21st.
It is due to worries about the Indian variant.
Robert said:
"Well it was always going to be the case that the Government would make a change, in this case relaxing restrictions on meeting indoors, opening pubs and restaurants etc, and then wait four weeks to see what effects that would have and then make an announcement as to the changes on the 21st.
"We're seeing round about half the adults in the country have had their second jab and three quarters have their first jabs and although we're seeing cases of the virus, many of those that have been identified recently are in the 11-16 age group others are in younger adults who have not been vaccinated.
"We're not seeing the large increase in hospital admissions or death that we might have seen and therefore I think we need to look carefully at the figures to see exactly where this infection is spreading. Of course as we continue the roll-out of the vaccinations, we will be looking at whether we want to keep going with 16-18 year-olds for example as they have in other countries.
"If we are seeing hospital admissions linked to people who've been offered a vaccination and refused it, I don't think it's beholding on the rest of us to stay in lockdown because of their foolish decision and therefore I'd make a clear plea to anyone who's been offered a vaccination to please go and get your vaccination as that will protect you."