‘It is essential that we all take action to reduce Covid-19 infection rates in Mid Sussex’

Mr Ash-Edwards said Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement of a national lockdown ‘was not a surprise given the rapid acceleration of coronavirus infection rates, especially in the south east’.

He added: “I know the lockdown will have a huge impact on residents and local businesses and is clearly not the start to 2021 that anyone was hoping for.

“Infection rates in Mid Sussex are now above the national average and at the highest they have been at any point during the pandemic.

“In parts of the north of the district infection rates are comparable to those seen in Kent in early to mid-December.”

Mr Ash-Edwards said the vaccine ‘is a huge reason for optimism’ – but said it tragically means that those people currently at greatest risk of serious illness and death are the very same people who are now just weeks away from being vaccinated.

“It is essential that we all take action to reduce infection rates to protect these residents and the NHS, which is under huge pressure,” Mr Ash-Edwards told the Middy.

He added that additional grant support for local businesses which are adversely impacted by the lockdown is being made available by the Government and district council will be administering these grants as quickly as possible.

“The district council continues to support the local community and businesses through these difficult times and is working hard to ensure key services are as resilient as possible,” said Mr Ash-Edwards.

“Further information about local support can be found at www.midsussex.gov.uk/coronavirus-community-business-support.“