Steve Brine was in the House yesterday (Monday 5 July 2021) as the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, gave only his second statement since stepping into the role.
The Secretary of State gave MPs an update on the vaccination programme, step 4 of the roadmap and possible plans for booster jabs in the Winter.
Steve thanked Sajid Javid for indicating a change of policy and tone as the Government moves to confirm whether July 19th “Freedom Day” will go ahead next week.
However Winchester’s MP also raised concerns over the Government’s test and trace asking; “Can I ask my right hon. Friend to give us an insight into his thinking about the future of test and trace? Surely it cannot continue as now, with contacts of contacts—even if they are double-vaccinated—being forced into isolation for 10 days at a time, with all the knock-on effects that that has on society and the economy.”
The Health Secretary confirmed; “I will be making a statement to Parliament on just that issue. I think I will probably make it tomorrow.”
Mr Javid returned to the House today to confirm that from 16 August, when even more people will have the protection from both doses of the vaccine, anyone who is a close contact of a positive case will no longer have to self-isolate if they have been fully vaccinated.
And he confirmed that if someone gets their second dose just before, or after, the 16 August, they will need to wait until two weeks after to benefit from these new freedoms.
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