Today Broadland, along with the rest of Norfolk, was placed into the new Tier 2 from 2nd December.
This is hugely disappointing for all of us. We want to be in the lowest tier possible to maximise our freedoms and support as many businesses as possible, whilst keeping infection rates low enough to enable our local hospitals to cope.
Unfortunately, latest data show that we still need to be in Tier 2 to achieve this: whilst the overall trend in Norfolk is a downward one, we are not quite there yet, and there has been a disturbing rise in the prevalence of Covid-19 amongst the over 60s, the most vulnerable group.
Whilst it is enormously tempting to open up the economy more widely, particularly the drinking-focused pubs, a worse outcome would be for us to create a 'go/stop' economy: a cycle where, whenever restrictions are relaxed, case rates rise and we find ourselves facing another lockdown in January. As a businessman, I know that this would be even more damaging to our businesses, incurring operating costs and then being told to close.
I have spoken to the Health Minister this evening and learned that Norfolk was very close to being assessed as suitable for Tier 1 restrictions. The tiers will be reassessed on 16th December. The further we can drive down our infection rate, the greater the chance that we can move to Tier 1 before Christmas.
Jerome Mayhew
Member of Parliament for Broadland
