Eastbourne MP reacts to new ‘devastating’ lockdown

Caroline Ansell said the figures set out by Boris Johnson were ‘terrifying as we grapple with this new variant of Covid that is causing so much harm’.

She said, “I very much understand how everyone in Eastbourne will now have their lives put on hold, that businesses will have to reset their plans to reopen and how pupils will again miss out on enriching lessons.”

Ms Ansell said the statistic that stood out to her were that if action isn’t taken, the NHS could be overwhelmed in three weeks - meaning that lockdown was the only option.

She said, “We simply have no choice but to lockdown again and I will support this measure because it will save lives. But I also want to stress this is not back to square one because the NHS is rapidly scaling up a massive vaccination programme that will deliver us all from the clutches of this pandemic.

“This is a dark hour right now but help is here and as time goes on more and more people will receive the vaccines and Covid will be in retreat.”

On January 4 Ms Ansell said she spoke to head teachers of many local schools to thank them for what they’ve done.

She said, “The online learning schools have developed in this pandemic represents a digital leap and the government continues with support as those eligible for free school meals will still receive them but there is no substitute for the classroom and I will be pressing for measures to allow schools to safely reopen as soon as possible.

“The effect of this pandemic on schoolchildren of all ages is deep and wide.”

Ms Ansell also said she will be ‘ready to assist’ local people and businesses needing support.

She said, “I can now only ask everyone in Eastbourne to rally again to do our bit to stop this virus while the vaccine does its work.

“If we do not, we will spend more time under restrictions. This is not the happy new year we hoped for but there is now hope and a route map out of this.”

Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council David Tutt added, “This is going to be tough, but with the speed that Covid-19 is spreading, I believe this is the right decision.

“Hopefully if we all abide by these restrictions we will reduce the number of infections and, coupled with the vaccination programme, beat this virus which has caused so much disruption and suffering.”

Lockdown rules explained