AN MP has hit out at Government for moving too quickly and forcing arbitrary measures on the public despite no hospitalisations from the Omicron variant.
Shipley MP Philip Davies said the measures which include mandatory mask wearing, Covid passports and a work from home instruction were too hasty and ill-thought through.
Speaking in Parliament he called for answers as over the plans, as well as suggestions on why he should tell constituents to follow the rules.
Mr Davies said: “Earlier this week, the Secretary of State came to the Chamber and said, that there had been not one single hospitalisation from this new variant. Today, he comes here with his latest in a long line of arbitrary, unnecessary, socialist measures, supported by the socialists on the Opposition Benches.
“I am sorry that the Secretary of State seems to have gone native so fast and has come forward with this announcement without even doing a cost-benefit analysis. Will he give me any reason at all why I should not tell my constituents to treat these new rules in exactly the same way that No. 10 Downing Street treated last year’s rules?”
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said hospitalisations are increasing in South Africa, where the variant originated and admissions are doubling on a weekly basis.
He added: “Also, we know from the history of viruses, and particularly with this pandemic, that there is a lag—sometimes a significant lag—between infection and hospitalisation. It takes time for the virus to incubate and, sadly, in some people that might lead to serious disease, which might mean hospitalisation. It is worth noting that the UK had its very first case of covid-19 back in January 2019 but it was not until, I think, two months later that we experienced the first death.”
