Today, Munira asked the Government if they should reconsider their relaxation of Covid-19 rules over Christmas. This follows a statement from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock MP, who announced some areas would be facing extra restrictions in the week before Christmas.
The number of Coronavirus cases has been growing in the capital, including in Munira’s own borough, Richmond-upon-Thames. Munira questioned whether relaxing rules over Christmas could lead to more deaths.
Speaking in the Chamber, Munira said:
“Thank you Mr. Speaker. My children are desperate to see their grandparents this Christmas, as is the case for many families up and down the country.
In view of these alarming numbers, and with what we’re seeing in the US following Thanksgiving, and with the constant chopping and changing of rules, which leads to lower compliance and more confusion – I appreciate the Secretary of State doesn’t want to be the Grinch, but should he be reconsidering the Christmas measures that are in place, or do we risk unnecessary additional deaths in the new year, just as we’ve got light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine?”
Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care responded:
“Well I would recommend to people to exercise caution over Christmas, especially with respect to seeing elderly relatives, who of course people are yearning to see, I understand that.
But I think it is important that people not only abide by the rules, but also take personal responsibility in case they have Coronavirus and might be passing it on, but don’t have any symptoms and don’t know about it.”