Kentish Express Ashford & District
SAD TIDINGS
Tougher rules imposed after coronavirus cases spiral
Traffic chaos on our roads as French order border closure Christmas is ‘ cancelled’ as tougher Tier 4 restrictions begin Covid-19 cases spiral in borough as new strain blamed for spread
Tougher restrictions are being imposed on Kent and other parts of the south east in an attempt to control a new strain of coronavirus and drive down spiralling infection rates in the county.
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, confirmed the stricter Tier 4 measures for the county during a press conference at Downing Street on Saturday afternoon. Here’s what we know about the tighter restrictions we have faced since Sunday:
What do the new restrictions for Kent involve?
The new rules will see life in the county return to something resembling the national lockdown in November.
From midnight on Saturday, Tier 4 restrictions came into force in all current Tier 3 areas across the south and east of England, which includes Kent.
A stay-at-home order is central to the new rules, with workers urged to carry out the jobs from home where possible, although those who must travel for education or work purposes can continue to do so.
The mixing of households is also significantly restricted, with the vast majority of people only permitted to meet with one other person from outside their household in an outdoor public space.
However, there are some exceptions, such as support bubbles which remain unaffected, allowing those at risk of isolation or loneliness to still receive vital contact.
In a major blow to the economy in the run up to the festive season, all non-essential retailers will be forced to shut their doors. Hairdressers, nail bars and indoor entertainment venues are also to be closed.
Does this mean Christmas is cancelled?
Unfortunately for those who were planning a gathering this week, it does mean Christmas cannot proceed as expected.
The Prime Minister had been desperate to avoid being seen to ‘cancel Christmas’ but said hand has been forced by the worrying medical evidence surrounding the news strain of the virus, which is believed to be fast-spreading and behind the recent surge in infections across Kent and beyond.
Now, in Tier 4 areas, people are being told they must only spend Christmas with the people they live with.
While elsewhere in the country the controversial plan to ease restrictions to allow people to form bubbles with other households for five days has been amended, now people should only meet up with others on Christmas Day itself.
Asked what message he would give to people whose bags were packed ready for Christmas
travel, Prof Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, simply said: “Please unpack it.”
People in the lower tiers are also being advised that they should not travel into the Tier 4 areas where the pandemic is currently at its worst.
Why are tougher measures for Kent necessary?
Scientists are growing increasingly concerned about a “highly contagious” new strain of Covid-19, which is said to have originated in Kent.
In a statement on Saturday, Prof Whitty said: “As announced on Monday, the UK has identified a new variant of Covid-19 through Public Health England’s genomic surveillance. As a result of the rapid spread of the new variant, preliminary modelling data and rapidly rising incidence rates in the South East, the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) now consider that the new strain can spread more quickly.”
The mutant strain is thought to be responsible for coronavirus cases in Kent rocketing over the past month.
What do we know about the mutant strain of Covid?
Public Health England (PHE) said that cases with this new variant had been identified predominantly in the south and east of England.
It has been named VUI – 202012/01 – the first variant under investigation in December.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said there is nothing to suggest this new strain is more likely to cause serious disease.
He also said the latest clinical advice is that it is highly unlikely that this mutation would fail to respond to a vaccine.
According to some national newspaper reports, this strain of Covid is 50% more infectious.
Is there any reason to be cheerful?
Yes. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is expected to be approved before the New Year.
Senior Whitehall sources believe that the Medicines and Healthcare product Regulatory Agency will authorise the vaccine on December 28 or 29, according to MailOnline.
Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said that the Oxford jab will allow the vaccination process to happen at a ‘much faster pace’.
Meanwhile, more than 300,000 people have already received the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine in the UK, after it was approved by the MHRA earlier this month.