MPs have been working with the council and its public health officials, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Mayor, and Government to seek an evidence-based intervention to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
News that we have narrowly avoided a full lockdown will come as a huge relief, but we need to be clear that unless infection rates decrease further, we remain firmly on notice.
A widespread economic lockdown would have been the wrong decision. Far from helping to defeat the virus it would have diluted resources and needlessly closed businesses which were not a factor in the spread of the virus.
In Oldham West and Royton, the positivity rates are currently showing highest in Werneth, and so increased testing has been carried out to track the virus. As we are seeing younger adults more likely to carry the virus, at the moment, many do not display symptoms which would usually be the catalyst to get tested. This is why the testing scheme has changed to focus on high risk groups, for instance because of the public facing job they do, contact tracing, full household testing and neighbourhood testing.
This is important because we have to accept that the virus will be circulating for what could be another year or more. In that time where it spikes will reflect many factors and we need to have a properly resourced system in place to identify those infected early, and to fully track those they have come into contact with.
I have requested more resources to allow proactive and routine testing in high risk workplaces. This way we can pick up where the virus is among those who are showing no or minimal symptoms. This stops its further spread and reduces the risk of those more likely to be much more affected by the virus being exposed to it.
We also need to see more support for businesses, and further enforcement to ensure the rules are adhered to. This means inspections for compliance on the wearing of face coverings and household mixing. It is impossible for businesses at times to be able to enforce some of the rules. For instance, restaurants knowing if it’s a single household booking a table or understanding what a legitimate support bubble is.
One thing that has come out repeatedly is the confusion caused by mixed messages. We all like a bargain, and our hospitality industry does need a boost, but the demand created by the “Eat Out to Help” Out scheme means restaurants are often packed out. This makes distancing difficult and means often close contact with strangers, when at the same time you are denied the chance to sit with extended family and friends.
There is also conflict with the often-changing requirement to self-isolate. With little financial support people are being forced to choose between health and putting food on the table. More should be done to support people to self-isolate when they are required to do following a positive test result.
We also need firmer workplace protection for workers. A significant feature of risk is intense and high contact jobs. These include transport workers, security staff, care staff, retail workers and warehouse and factory workers. More resource to inspect these (hundreds) of premises, offer advice and guidance, enforcement and improvement is important. This also would support workplace testing.
And we must see enforcement on face coverings. My comments feed, my email inbox, and my own experience living in the town is that compliance is not where it needs to be, in some cases far from it. Inspections on trams and bus stations will increase (and they will need to even more so if schools do return in September).
But large supermarkets can and must do more to have trained (and properly resourced) staff to restrict entry. It’s important to say that some people will have a legitimate health reason not to wear a mask. There is also a significant issue with local shops and takeaways where the rules are routinely ignored. Perhaps it’s that we are better prepared for the ‘big shop’ and see nipping out to the local shop as less important. Either way enforcement will have to be increased.
I have been out with frontline staff and volunteers over two days, and will join them again next week. They have been working incredibly hard to keep us safe and deserve our thanks.
Though we’ve escaped a full lockdown, I can say with confidence that if not for the work locally, we could well have been facing the prospect of businesses closing again. We are not in the clear, we can not believe the risk is over. Far from it.
We need individual action now. This means we all follow the rules to the letter and to the spirit. The sooner we bring the virus rates down, the sooner we can meet extended family and friends again.
I know we have all made sacrifices, and I know many of you have really been affected by the virus and the lockdown restrictions. Stay safe and look out for each other.
Together we can beat the virus.
The new restrictions are;
Oldhamers should only use public transport for essential travel, that is to go to work and school.
You should not mix with people you do not live with in homes, gardens, public parks, restaurants or pubs.
There will be greater restrictions on the number of people that can attend weddings and funerals.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 