Bath MP: Covid Demands Caution

16 July 2021

With local cases of Covid rising sharply and the lifting of restrictions imminent, Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath, urged residents to get fully vaccinated and to take personal responsibility for the safety of themselves and others.

Wera Hobhouse said:

“After such a long lockdown and with summer here, we are all keen to be able to enjoy ourselves and to see more of family and friends. I know how much our local businesses are looking forward to serving their regular customers and to welcoming visitors to our city.

“This easing of restrictions is being made possible by the success of our vaccination programme but it is vital for us all to be cautious as the vaccination programme is still being rolled out. The vaccines are very effective but they need to be supported by responsible behaviour.

“Local Covid cases are continuing to rise sharply. Yesterday, Bath and North East Somerset recorded 227 cases of coronavirus in the latest 24-hour period.

“A large segment of our local population is in the 18 - 24 year old group and many of these young people have not yet been vaccinated as vaccination has only recently been made available to them. The clinically vulnerable are also at high risk. We are still learning about the longer-term impact of the coronavirus and we know that so-called ‘long Covid’ can be extremely debilitating.

“The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) should look very seriously at the benefits of vaccinating children under 18.

“We have already been down the unhappy road of opening up and having to go back into lockdown. No one wants this to have to happen again. So I urge everyone to do their part to halt the spread of the virus which remains extremely dangerous. Please get both doses of the vaccine.

“Wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces to reduce the spread of COVID-19, especially to protect vulnerable people who are less protected by vaccines. Our GPs' surgeries and hospitals will require face coverings to be worn.

“I will be wearing a face covering when I’m in crowded and enclosed spaces with people I don’t normally meet to protect others and I hope that the people of Bath will do the same.”

“You can get your free Covid-19 vaccination at a walk-in clinic this weekend in Bath, no appointment necessary:

• Bath Racecourse, 16 - 20 July (8am - 8pm) and 22 - 23 July (8am - 8pm). Pfizer and AstraZeneca, first and second doses (minimum 8 weeks since first dose).
• Bath Pavilion, 14 – 18 July (12pm – 7pm). Pfizer vaccine only, first and second doses (minimum 8 weeks since first dose).”