'We must stick together and look out for each other', says health secretary and West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock
Health Secretary Matt Hancock says people 'must stick together and look out for each other' as Suffolk faces Tier 4 restrictions.
Mr Hancock, secretary of state for Health and Social Care and MP for West Suffolk, made his comments after yesterday's announcement that Suffolk would face the toughest safety restrictions from midnight tomorrow.
He said: "I know how difficult it is for Suffolk to have to go into Tier 4 restrictions. It’s not something anyone wants to happen.
"But we have seen a sharp rise in cases, doubling in less than a week, and with the new variant spreading it's important to keep people safe.
"I know people understand how important it is to stay safe, right across West Suffolk, and I’m hugely grateful for the fortitude people have shown.
"We must stick together and look out for each other during these difficult times, while we get the vaccine rolled out to get us out of this."
Mr Hancock added:
This will be a Christmas like no other, after a year like no other, but I am confident that things will be very different this time next year.
"I know that many of you will not be able to spend Christmas with the people you love and that is a truly heart-breaking situation for so many.
"We look forward every year to the rituals of Christmas - but this year things have changed.
"Christmas has come at the end of an extraordinary and hugely challenging year, marred by disruption, sorrow and hardship and I understand how difficult life has been for so many of you.
"But as we look to 2021, there are reasons to be optimistic, thanks to the love and comradeship people have shown in such tough times this year, and with the gathering pace of the vaccine rollout.
"It is this vaccine, more than anything else, which will set us free and allow us to be with family and friends again and to get on with living.
We are nearly there – but we must not falter at this last hurdle.
"However you are spending Christmas – I wish you a very happy one and I also send my best wishes for a tremendously better new year.
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