COVID-19 reporting back

I understand the threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a great concern to many constituents, so I wanted to take the time to write and update constituents on the latest developments.

Firstly, I want to share the latest information I have received from the Secretary of State for Health about COVID-19.

“A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.

Among those who become infected, some will exhibit no symptoms. Early data suggest that of those who develop an illness, the great majority will have a mild-to-moderate, but self-limiting illness – similar to seasonal flu. It is, however, also clear that a minority of people who get COVID-19 will develop complications severe enough to require hospital care, most often pneumonia. In a small proportion of these, the illness may be severe enough to lead to death.

We do not yet have entirely complete data on this disease. But as we learn more about the virus, its effects and its behaviour (for example, the timing and extent of the peak of an outbreak, its precise impact on individuals), we will be able to revise estimates of its potential spread, severity and impact”.

Yesterday, following a meeting of COBRA, the Prime Minister held a press conference setting out the latest steps the Government are taking to contain the spread of Coronavirus in the UK. You can find the full press statement by going to the below link.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-coronavirus-9-march-2020

The Government are taking proactive steps and public safety remains the absolute top priority. At this stage the Government arepreparing various actions to slow the spread of this disease in order to reduce the strain it places on the NHS.

This week the Prime Minister also announced a new taskforce to bolster local responses to COVID-19 to ensure that communities get the support they need to tackle the virus at the local level.

This taskforce will ensure that Local Resilience Forums (LRFs), which are made up of emergency services, local authorities and the NHS, can respond quickly and effectively to this virus. The taskforce will look at local health plans ensuring that they provide the very best support for everyone in their local area, especially for vulnerable people and the elderly.

Despite being at the containment stage,I have been informed that rigorous planning is going into every possible eventuality. It is encouraging to see that The Global Health Index has found the UK is ranked number one in the world for rapid response to the mitigation of the spread of an epidemic.

I know this is a very worrying time. It is important that nobody panics and that we all keep up to date with the latest recommendations from the Government and Health Authorities.

One of the country’s most senior scientists, the deputy chief medical officer, wrote for the Eastern Daily Press recently and you can find her advice here: https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/health 

As the MP for Norwich North I will be keeping up to date with all the latest developments in Parliament, in support of this science-based response to the outbreak of COVID-19.