MALDON MP John Whittingdale has spoken of his sadness at the need for a second national lockdown – and also his hopes for the district's recovery.

In his latest newsletter to his constituents, Mr Whittingdale says: "I was very sad that the Government reluctantly decided that it was necessary to impose a second lockdown across England throughout the month of November. I am personally hugely resistant to restrictions on individual liberties and regret very much that these have had to be imposed. I am also very conscious of the distress caused to families and friends who cannot meet, as well as to those businesses that have been forced to close again just as they were starting to recover.

"However, when it became clear that the number of cases was rising again, I am convinced that it was right to act swiftly in order to curb the increase and to protect the NHS.

"At the beginning of the pandemic, the Prime Minister was clear that we had to keep a lid on the number of infections at any one time to ensure that we retained capacity in the health service to treat patients. He warned that this could mean a series of lockdowns even though obviously we all hoped to avoid them. Sadly, every country in Europe has now seen a second wave of infections and almost all are having to reimpose restrictions."

The MP also tells how the rapid rise in the number of Covid-19 infections in every area of the county led him to support first the imposition of Tier 2 'High' level pandemic restrictions across the area – and then the national lockdown.

Mr Whittingdale adds: "As an Essex MP, I am given regular briefings by the county council and the Director of Public Health. Although the figures in Essex were below those in other parts of the UK, by mid-October they were rising rapidly in every district including in Maldon. As a result, I supported the decision to impose Tier 2 restrictions across the county in order to avoid tougher measures having to be imposed later for longer.

"Since then, every region of the country has shown a rapid rise leading to the nationwide lockdown for four weeks. In Essex, there are now encouraging signs that the rise in cases is beginning to flatten, suggesting that the early action is working.

"However, the number of Covid patients in our local hospitals is over 200 and tragically 59 people in Essex died in the second half of October. The message from NHS providers, representing all the Hospital Trusts, to MPs was clear: "a national lockdown is the only realistic option now available if the NHS is to look after patients in the way it needs to". There is good reason to be optimistic that we will be able to lift the restrictions by 2 December but this does depend on everybody complying with the rules in order to stop the spread.

"I know that the need for these measures is hugely disappointing for businesses who have once again had to close their doors. However, the Chancellor is providing more support by extending the furlough scheme until the end of March, by giving more generous financial help to the self-employed and by providing up to £3,000 a month to businesses that are forced to close.

"A new Winter Grant Scheme will also provide additional help to families in need, giving far more effective and better targeted help than simply extending free school meals. All of us hope that we can soon beat the virus and that life can return to normal. To achieve that requires hard decisions but the Government is doing it all it can to support people through the crisis.

"I am confident that we can and will emerge from it better and stronger".