‘Light at end of the tunnel’

POSITIVE news on the coronavirus has been coming in thick and fast over the last fortnight.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been confirmed as 94 per cent effective in the over-65s and its submission for regulatory approval is expected imminently. Moderna is hot on its heels with a similar success rate.

And closer to home, Oxford University/AstraZeneca have reported a 90 per cent efficacy rate in one version of the trial and, significantly, intend to offer it as cost price (£2/£3) and with far less logistical challenges (it can be stored in an ordinary fridge). These are truly extraordinary achievements in modern science and I am so grateful to the efforts of all involved.

However, this is not a moment for hubris. All three still have hurdles to cross and there are massive logistical challenges ahead. However, the Government has purchased hundreds of millions of doses – easily enough to inoculate the nation. An order of priority has been drawn up, starting with the residents and staff of care homes and working down in order of age and clinical vulnerability.

There is a second vital tool in our armoury – mass testing which has so far worked brilliantly in a citywide pilot in Liverpool. Widespread community testing and the 15-minute lateral flow tests are already being rolled out and it was confirmed on Tuesday that this would enable international passengers arriving on flights to the UK from December 15 to reduce their quarantine periods to five days (from 14).

This Monday the Prime

Minister confirmed to the House that from December 2, the UK will return to a tiered system, with gyms, retail, hairdressers and beauty salons reopening fully across England, irrespective of tier. At the time of writing, West Berkshire’s status has not been confirmed, although our rate of infection is currently falling and well below the national average at 99.1 per 100,000.

There are a few important points of clarification.

First, the new measures come in from Wednesday, December 2 (not Thursday, December 3 as originally suggested).

Second, all amateur sport and children’s sport can resume (with some mitigations for high contact sports and adult sport indoors).

Third, fans can return to stadiums in limited numbers according to the tier.

Fourth, the Government is projecting that we will have returned to more-or-less normality by late spring/early summer. This means that anyone who is planning or working in the live-events sector can reasonably expect a reopening around Easter, so that they have sufficient time to prepare.

And last, but by no means least, up to three households can meet between December 23 and 27, although special care must still be taken towards elderly or vulnerable relatives.

After a year of exceptional isolation we can celebrate Christmas together knowing there a light at the end of the tunnel.