Council leader "…angry and frustrated"

Council leader "…angry and frustrated"

The government has announced tonight that England will enter a further lockdown

The lockdown comes following a significant increase in coronavirus cases nationally and is to limit the spread of the virus.

From Tuesday everyone will be required to stay at home, except for a few very specific purposes:

•Essential shopping

•For work, if you absolutely cannot work from home

•Exercise

•To seek medical assistance (including to get a Covid-19 test)

•To escape domestic abuse

All primary and secondary schools and colleges must move to remote learning from tomorrow, except for vulnerable children and children of key workers until at least February half term.

The government has allowed early years provision to remain open. You should check with your provider for further details.

Shielding will resume from tomorrow for those who are clinically extremely vulnerable. Those affected will be written to in the coming days by the government as to what this means to them.

The council will update the range of additional support available during this difficult time for residents and businesses in Telford and Wrekin.

Council leader, Cllr Shaun Davies said:

“We want to reassure our residents and businesses that we will be working quickly to understand the details of the new lockdown measures and how it impacts on local services.

“As with the previous lockdowns and Tier restrictions, we will do all we can to protect and care for our residents and businesses and offer them additional support in any way that we can.

“I am angry and frustrated by the lack of pace on getting vaccinations out to people in our borough. The government’s vaccination programme just isn’t being rolled out quickly enough locally. We continue to offer the NHS and government our full support to make this happen but I am left dismayed that the council has no involvement in this important mission.

“With coronavirus cases significantly rising and another national lockdown just confirmed, we must now stay at home and only leave for those very specific reasons outlined above.

“We must continue to wash our hands, wear a face covering and keep our distance from other people.

“We must now be doing these things 100% of the time.

“To report a concern about a business or venue not complying with Covid-19 rules, email coronavirus@telford.gov.uk. The council will use all of its powers to enforce these rules for the benefit of us all.

“I recognise that this is a worrying time for everyone and many of you will have questions about the changes the government has just announced.

“Together with council officers, I will be holding a live Q&A on Facebook later this week and I will be writing to every resident in the coming days.

“We all need to play our part to keep each other safe.”

Further updates and information about help and support for individuals, businesses and organisations will be published in the coming days on www.telford.gov.uk/coronavirus