Update on Coronavirus – September 2020

 - As at 24 Sept 2020.



New measures have been introduced across the North East, including in our constituency, to try and bring down the rising number of Coronavirus cases.  New nationwide guidance has also been introduced, but please note the local measures override those.

Sharon Hodgson, Member of Parliament for Washington & and Sunderland West and Shadow Minister for Veterans has welcomed the new measures in Washington and Sunderland West and across the North East, aimed at curbing the rising cases of Coronavirus.

(Clicking on the above image will take you to guidance provided by the Government on the new restrictions)

Sharon is calling on all constituents to follow the measures, in order to keep everyone safe and ensure that our NHS is not overwhelmed.

Full guidance from the Government can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/north-east-of-england-local-restrictions

Information from Sunderland City Council, including FAQs, can be found here:

https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/article/17375/New-Covid-19-restrictions-for-our-region-17-September

Sharon said:

‘’I welcome the new measures being introduced, as the rise in cases of coronavirus in recent days has been concerning. The Government must now provide any additional support that our Local Authority needs for improved testing and to support people where necessary.

‘’It is vitally important that everyone follows the new measures, in order to keep us all safe, and protect our NHS.

‘’This will be a challenging time for many people, but I know that we can work together and bring the cases down in the coming days and weeks.’’

Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Aug-Sep 2020 number 131

Click on the picture above to read Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Aug-Sep 2020 number 131

Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Jul-Aug 2020 number 130

Click on the picture above to read Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Jul-Aug 2020 number 130

You can read Sharon's latest Sunderland Echo column below

There is almost no part of the economy that has not been badly affected by the impact of Coronavirus and the necessary measures taken to limit its spread.

It seems like every day brings further announcements of job losses. Behind every new tranche of numbers are individuals and families who now face a worrying and uncertain future.

Alongside manufacturing more widely, one area which is being particularly damaged is the aerospace industry. The near total suspension in air travel and continued low passenger numbers are having a significant knock on effect on companies such as Rolls-Royce.

As the MP for a constituency home to a Rolls-Royce site, I am acutely aware of the scale of the problems facing the company and its workers.

That’s why I convened an urgent meeting last week for MPs with sites in their constituencies and Unite representatives to discuss what is needed from the Government to prevent further job losses and safeguard the high level of skills in the workforce.

Whilst some aspects of Government financial assistance measures have been a lifeline, there have also been significant shortfalls.

As Unite have pointed out, steps taken by our Government pale in comparison to those taken by France and Germany. The seemingly indifferent attitude taken by this Conservative Government was summed up in the absence of any mention of the aviation or aerospace sectors in the Chancellor’s recent summer statement.

It is becoming increasingly clear that further, sector specific, support will be needed in the coming weeks and months.

As the Labour Party has made clear, we need a targeted strategy that acknowledges that workers in struggling sectors cannot and should not be treated the same way as workers in sectors that are already back to full capacity.

Growing up in the North East during the Thatcher Governments, I know how much long-term damage can be done to our communities when industries are abandoned.

If Boris Johnson wants to make good on his ‘levelling up’ rhetoric, he needs to step in and provide a comprehensive strategy to stop continued and widespread job losses in aerospace and manufacturing.

Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Jun-Jul 2020 number 129



Click on the picture above to read Sharon Hodgson MP's report - Jun-Jul 2020 number 129

I know that many constituents will be concerned by Coronavirus (Covid-19). Below are some links that you may find helpful. Please do email me on sharon.hodgson.mp@parliament.uk if you have any questions or concerns.


Last updated: 26/06/2020

 


Advice from Sunderland City Council:

Support from Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness:

Coronavirus Response Fund >

Stay safe online >

< Back to list <

How your business can help:

Help advice from some of the main banks:

Generally

Please follow Public Health England's advice:

You can read Sharon's latest Sunderland Echo column below or on the Sunderland Echo website

I never expected to have something in common with a 22-year-old Manchester United and England professional football player, yet here we are.

Like Marcus Rashford, I grew up on Free School Meals (FSM) and similarly I have been using my experiences growing up to make a change for the children growing up today.

I still remember the stigma of being separated from my friends to queue in a separate line with other children on FSMs.

That is why, since I became an MP in 2005, I have campaigned for Universal Free School Meals (UFSMs) and set up the All-Party Parliamentary Group on School Food in 2010 to campaign for UFSMs, breakfast clubs, high quality school food standards and food provision over the summer holidays to tackle ‘holiday hunger’.

This is something that has been brought into public consciousness recently by the intervention of Marcus Rashford, but as he has acknowledged: this isn’t a new Coronavirus-related problem.

We have known for years that, on the approximately 170 days a year when the school gates are shut, some children will not receive regular, healthy or substantial meals. This has a negative impact on their development and learning.

With the effects of the pandemic expected to stay with us all for many months or even years to come, it was callous for the Government to expect that all families on low incomes would be able to provide substantial and healthy food during the holidays. Many of these families will be on furlough, not knowing if their job will still exist when the scheme comes to an end or will have had their finances significantly squeezed because of lockdown.

I welcome the Government’s U-turn, that will see all 1.3 million children eligible for FSMs able to continue accessing food provision for free during the summer holidays. But the Prime Minister’s admission that he wasn’t aware of the campaign until the day of the U-turn is testament to his Government’s tone-deafness to children growing up in poverty.

Because of this, I will continue to campaign until no child goes without food in the UK.

Sunderland Echo >

Sharon Hodgson MP's report - May-Jun 2020 number 128

Click on the picture above to read Sharon Hodgson MP's report - May-Jun 2020 number 128

You can read Sharon's latest Sunderland Echo Column below, or on the Sunderland Echo website.

This week, some lockdown restrictions have been lifted. You can now spend time outdoors, in a group of up to six people from different households whilst maintaining social distancing; you can visit car showrooms and some children have returned to school.

I know that these changes will come with a mixture of both anxiety and relief. We all want to see our friends and family again and return to some sense of normality; but if we are to do that, we must do so safely.

Now is not the time for complacency, or for a drive to Barnard Castle to test your eyesight.

I know that the warm weather can be tempting and the fact that the Prime Minister’s own advisor was seen to be breaking lockdown rules makes it seem like the Government’s guidelines are advisory, rather than compulsory.

But if we do want to hug our friends and family again, if we want to attend large gatherings again and if we want to continue to protect the NHS from being overwhelmed, then we must continue to follow the Government’s guidelines strictly.

That means staying home as much as possible. Where you do go out, for business or leisure, you must stay 2 metres away from people who are not from your household, where possible.

By doing this, we will continue to protect ourselves and others.

I would like to thank everyone who has made unbelievable sacrifices to follow the Government’s lockdown guidance. My thoughts are with those who have missed out on key life milestones, missed out on spending time with friends and family, and tragically missed out on saying goodbye to loved ones.

Whilst it feels like we are beginning to gain back some freedom, please remember that the Coronavirus pandemic is not over yet.

We still all have a part to play in protecting ourselves, our loved ones and our NHS.

With that in mind, I continue to put pressure on the Government to safely lift lockdown restrictions, in a way that follows the science and the reality on the ground.

For example, the North East has the highest rate of Coronavirus infections in England, so to lift lockdown restrictions based on Coronavirus rates in the South West (which now has the lowest rate of infections) would be irresponsible.

I continue to make representations to the Government on these very important issues. My team and I are busy helping constituents navigate the guidance and the various furlough and support schemes that have been introduced and are helping constituents fight for their rights to access what they are entitled to.

If any of my constituents have any questions or concerns about the lockdown restrictions or anything else, then please do email Sharon.hodgson.mp@parliament.uk and I will do all that I can to help you.

Sunderland Echo website >