Bill Esterson MP warns of high risk approach to unlocking and urges caution

ON Monday, 12 July 2021, the Labour Sefton Central MP, Bill Esterson, has been warning the Government that it has taken a "high risk" approach to unlocking and has urged his constituents to display caution as they continue about their daily lives. This statement comes as the new Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who was appointed after Matt Hancock resigned after breaching Covid19 social distancing rules, confirmed that the UK will move to the final stage of unlocking of Covid19 restrictions on 19 July 2021. However, Bill Esterson urged caution after the Government refused to make any concessions on face masks, support for those in self isolation and enhanced Local Authority led contact tracing.

Bill Esterson MP said:- "Last week, Sajid Javid said he would not wear a face-mask after 19th July. Now he is saying it is irresponsible not to wear a mask in a crowded room. Surely it is just as irresponsible to stop mandatory mask-wearing in crowded spaces? And after the restrictions ease, we will see a rise in Covid19 cases. This means more people will become ill and have to self isolate. But some people still can�t afford to self isolate and miss out on work. Given furlough is being withdrawn, financial support for isolation is more important than ever and yet Sajid Javid has said nothing about financial support for people self isolating. To get through this third wave and flatten the curve we will need ongoing testing and contact tracing. Sefton Council did a fantastic job testing and tracing Covid19 when new strains were emerging, including most recently with the Johnson variant, which the Prime Minister allowed to spread because of his reckless refusal to put India on the red list. I believe Local Authorities, like Sefton Council, should be given the resources they need to get on with the job at hand."

Criticising the Conservative approach, Bill Esterson MP also took aim at the Conservative MP for Southport Damien Moore:- "Conservative MPs like the 1 in Southport want the public to throw caution to the wind after a year that has seen over 150,000 people lose their lives. And his own Health Secretary has admitted relaxing restrictions could lead to over 100,000 new infections a day while hospital waiting lists hit 13 million. With infection rates soaring, hospitalisations rising and the Johnson Variant still running wild across the UK, now is not the time for Conservatives like Damien Moore to put thousands more people at risk."

Bill Esterson MP warns of high risk approach to unlocking and urges caution

Total UK cases Covid19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region