Thank you for contacting me about the new system of tiers and the placing of West Yorkshire in the new, stricter Tier 3.
I totally understand the frustrations around the information available and in particular the information available to MP’s when we have to vote – hence my voting against the second lockdown.
On the many specific questions that have been put to me, I do not know the answers nor do I feel there would be any benefit in trying to get answers to them, as the Government either will not or cannot provide them.
What I will say however, is that, on the basis of the information below, we do have a real problem currently in Calderdale.
As of the week ending 27th November, whilst infection rates declined, they still sat within the top 30 worst in the country; we had a 450 people per 100,000 infection rate (we hit 500 a couple of weeks previously); 16.8% of people tested were positive compared to 8.7% nationally; on the morning of 27th November 123 people were in hospital with Covid, 1 in ICU (It was 18 the previous week); and we have had 72 Covid deaths locally since the 1st of November (also 79 non-covid deaths). The good news is that 282 people with Covid who were hospitalised, returned home.
As you can see from the above, we do have a real problem and whilst these figures have reduced since before lockdown, they are still very high.
The other good news of course is that the delivery of the vaccine is imminent so with a bit of luck we will see the need for restrictions disappear naturally!
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Craig Whittaker MP
December 2020