Macclesfield MP, David Rutley, is urging all residents in our local communities to abide by the latest regulations following the announcement of the new national lockdown. This is a vital step in helping to contain the spread of the new variant of coronavirus and protect the NHS, whilst vaccines are rolled out.
The new variant is between 50 and 70 per cent more transmissible, meaning that people are much more likely to catch the virus and spread it. This in turn is putting greater pressure on the NHS and our hospitals than at any other time since the start of the pandemic. That is why such urgent steps have had to be taken to help beat the virus.
Under the new rules, people must stay at home and only leave home where necessary for specific reasons, including: to go to work, if this cannot reasonably be done from home; to shop for basic necessities; to exercise; and to seek medical assistance. Further details on the new regulations can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
The vaccination rollout programme gives us hope for a brighter future. David is keeping in regular contact with the NHS Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group about the rollout of the vaccine locally. Sixteen new GP-led COVID-19 vaccination services will start vaccinating people across Cheshire over the next two weeks, including in Macclesfield and Poynton. The initial focus will be on protecting those at highest risk, and the exact dates will be subject to national vaccine supply and other key operational considerations. Vaccinations are also due to start at Macclesfield Hospital on Wednesday, 6th January.
As we move forward, the approval of the Oxford - AstraZeneca vaccine, which is a more versatile vaccine, will enable the pace of vaccination to accelerate and help ensure that the majority of care home staff and residents are protected in the coming weeks. David is proud of the achievements of all those who work for AstraZeneca who have helped develop the new vaccine and are involved in rollout plans.
David has spoken to John Wilbraham, Chief Executive of East Cheshire NHS Trust, about the latest situation at Macclesfield Hospital and has passed on his thanks and those of local residents for the continued courageous work of our local doctors, nurses, ambulance teams and other NHS staff during the pandemic. David is also grateful for all those working in social care settings and for the many volunteers who continue to provide support for the clinically vulnerable in our communities - their work is invaluable at such a challenging time.
Commenting on the latest regulations, David said, “It is even more important than ever to play our part and abide by the rules – it is a vital priority. This is the way to help contain the fast-spreading, new variant coronavirus. The rollout of the vaccine locally is welcome news and will help protect many of the most vulnerable local residents over the coming weeks. But that should not make any of us complacent, the rules are clear for the weeks ahead: stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.”