First of all I hope that you all had a restful and pleasant Easter. Despite the current circumstances it is important that we remember to take some time to relax and take our mind off the stress and anxieties which are being caused by this crisis.
I realise this may seem difficult given how bleak and dark the pandemic appeared over the bank holiday weekend. However, some early indications from this week could finally indicate that we are turning a corner.
Across the country, and indeed across the continent, the early evidence suggests that the lockdown and tough social distancing measures are having the desired effect. We are successfully flattening the curve and successfully fighting this virus.
Whilst this news is certainly welcomed we must not slip into complacency. To truly stamp out this virus we will have to continue practising social distancing for many more weeks, or even months. Failure to do so could quickly lead to another outbreak and swiftly see all our hard work eradicated and our health service overwhelmed.
By observing these tough rules we are not just protecting ourselves, but each other and the most vulnerable in society. I know this first time having just come out of self-isolation this week after experiencing symptoms of Coronavirus. Whilst it was frustrating to not be able to do what I can to help and represent communities across Beaconsfield, I know that by closely following the guidance set out by the government I am helping the most vulnerable in society and ultimately saving lives, and by doing the same you too are doing your part also.
This hasn’t prevented me from passing on concerns which constituents have raised to ministers across government such as ensuring the PPE is being efficiently distributed, and that the financial support available reaches as many people as possible, particularly those who are self-employed and who contribute so much to our constituency.
Moving forward with many of my Parliamentary duties moving to digital platforms, and social distancing reducing my Westminster engagements significantly, I will be spending much more of my time in the constituency and doing what I can to help with the local relief effort.
I am very much looking forward to getting stuck in and doing what I can to help, so if you have any causes, programmes that need support please contact my office and I will see what I can do to help.
Additionally, this crisis is changing every day as we learn more and more. As a Government in an unprecedented crisis the likes of which we have not seen in a century, we may not get things right straight away. But I have no doubt that the Government is listening to your concerns and doing all it can to act upon them. I have certainly seen as much from the numerous responses I have received from government ministers who are working round the clock to see us through this pandemic.
I would like to finish by reiterating that I firmly believe that the lockdown is working and we are now starting to turn a corner. We will get through this together as a community working together to support one another.
To all the heroes working on the front-line, and everyone else following social distancing, I want to say thank you, and to keep up the good work!
Joy Morrissey
Member of Parliament for Beaconsfield
