I never thought that just over three months into my new role as your Member of Parliament, our communities and country would be in the midst of a pandemic, a national emergency the likes of which our country hasn’t seen since the Second World War.
In one of my first speeches in the House of Commons, I stated that the first job of government is to keep its people safe, and I am reassured that our Government has shown their absolute commitment to doing so.
We are dealing with a virus that is new to all of us. One just needs to look at the sobering images coming out from China, Italy, Spain and France to know that our response to this crisis must be serious and extensive.
The Prime Minister has now put in place a three-week lockdown to push down the curve of transmission. To ensure this measure helps save as many lives as possible, the police will enforce the lockdown through fines and dispersal orders.
This means from now on, you may only leave home to shop for food (as infrequently as possible with a strong preference for online ordering -please order from our farm shops or from our pubs and restaurants), one form of exercise a day (at a distance), medical reasons, to help vulnerable people, and to travel to and from work if it is absolutely necessary and you truly cannot work from home.
I am urging the residents of Rutland to act with the community spirit that made me fall in love with our constituency to protect the most vulnerable in our communities and help us recover to full health. Thank you to everyone who is volunteering and to Rutland Council who are working so hard.
These measures are in place because the most vulnerable in our society are in genuine danger. We must do everything we can as individuals, families, a community and country to protect them, as we would want others to do if someone we loved were at risk.
Please stay in your home and understand that COVID-19 is extremely contagious. On average, one person tends to pass on an average flu to about 14 people, but the statistics suggest that every person who caries COVID-19 will infect 59,000 people.
I must stress that you may be carrying it even if you don’t feel unwell. Please assume you are carrying the virus and stay at home to protect our community.
Earlier this week, I raised the issue of individuals coming to Rutland for so-called ‘self-isolation holidays’ directly with the Health Secretary in the House of Commons, because I am resolutely committed to protecting all of you in whatever way my role allows. I have also worked hard with my colleagues to ensure that food producers and farmers are rightly recognised as the keyworkers they are. I am also working hard to get the self-employed the support you need - it is coming.
Please rest assured that I will continue to advocate for you throughout this outbreak.
