Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland, discusses how hard work of Stocken Prison staff and vaccine rollout helped lower infection rates
A third of British adults have now received a dose of the vaccine, infection rates are falling - as are hospitalisations, and deaths from Covid-19 continue to decrease.
As Spring dawns, we have now entered into the first phase of unlocking the country and regaining our freedoms. Children are back at school, a sigh of relief to parents across the county I’m sure!
This is so important, and the Government is right to prioritise childrens’ life chances above all else. Children get one shot at an education and the pandemic has been an awful strain for them and their parents.
I take my hat off to every parent who has juggled being ‘teacher’ alongside their employment. I would also like to express my greatest thanks to our teachers and school staff who kept schools open for keyworkers, our special educational needs teachers and staff, and indeed our nursery workers who have been caring for our youngest.
As a mother of two very young children, I’m relieved that as of this week grandparents can now see their grandchildren again. The pandemic has taken so much, and those simple human interactions, once so routine, will be treasured for the rest of our lives. This is a small, but important step forward alongside the lessening of restrictions around visits to care homes.
Locally I’m relieved that HMP Stocken’s outbreak is under control, with very few cases remaining within the prison. This is thanks to the Governor and his staff, who have worked tirelessly both in tackling the virus in the prison, and in preventing its transmission to the community.
Rutland’s rates of the virus are enormously improved, and with the fantastic uptake of the vaccine locally we have much cause to be hopeful.
Last week the Chancellor held his budget, and I’m delighted to report that two measures I had specifically pushed for were announced.
Firstly, he announced that our bid to secure a Freeport at East Midlands Airport was successful. This means up to 60,000 skilled jobs will be coming to the East Midlands, and our region will be at the forefront of new trading opportunities for the UK, bringing great benefits to local businesses and helping us recover from the pandemic. I will admit to having cheered when it was announced.
Secondly, he announced more support for our hospitality and tourism industries. Businesses will receive grants of up to £6,000 for non-essential retail and up to £18,000 for hospitality to support them and enable them to safely re-open in the coming months. Times have been tough for too many businesses in Rutland, and the help in re opening is a godsend. The budget provides much certainty: for businesses, and also for workers with the furlough and self-employed income support schemes extended.
The shoots of the recovery are there for all to see, and together we will get through this and we will recover.
l What do you think? Do you see the green shoots of recovery or are you worried? Send your views to: kerry.coupe@iliffepublishing.co.uk
