Covid-19 Update Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Covid-19 Update

Jeremy Hunt Excerpts
Monday 12th October 2020

(4 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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Just to help the House, I will finish the statement at 5.50 pm, so let us help each other.

Jeremy Hunt Portrait Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey) (Con)
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This morning, it was announced that the routine testing of asymptomatic NHS staff in hotspot areas would start. This has been long advocated by the Health and Social Care Committee, and I thank the Prime Minister for the progress on it.

We all want to avoid a second national lockdown, which would be devastating for jobs. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the evidence from China, Korea and Italy is that the best way to avoid that is to have earlier, decisive, localised interventions, however difficult and unpalatable, and that today’s difficult decision is not, therefore, about a trade-off between jobs and health, but ultimately the best way to secure both?

Boris Johnson Portrait The Prime Minister
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My right hon. Friend is absolutely right in what he says, and I know that local leaders across the country will listen to him. I hope they will accept our offer and go into tier 3 where necessary.