Godalming's MP, Jeremy Hunt, is calling for all schools to be shut to tackle the rising tide of Covid-19 infections.

The South West Surrey MP said in a series of Tweets: "No 1 lesson is countries that act early and decisively save lives and get their economies back to normal faster. Wuhan is now free of any restrictions - but Uni of Southampton show if they'd locked down 1 week earlier they would've reduced infections by 2/3.

"We therefore cannot afford to wait: all schools should be closed, international travel stopped, household mixing limited and the tier system reviewed so that the highest tier really does bring down infection levels (as with the first lockdown).

"Also with vacancy levels at 2-3 times normal because of self-isolation and covid, NHS staff who are risking their lives for us MUST be put at the front of the queue for vaccines. This will stop our hospitals falling over and help keep their patients safe. It is also our moral duty.

"The good news is that unlike before these restrictions will be time limited to the 12 weeks or so it will take to get the vaccine out to those most vulnerable to Covid - so there is light at the end of the tunnel."

Mr Hunt's intervention comes as the Government is reportedly considering putting the whole country under potentially even tougher lockdown measures.

He adds: "I know all these things will be under consideration with decisions potentially imminent. My point is in the face of exponential growth even waiting an extra day causes many avoidable deaths so these plans must now be urgently accelerated."

PM Boris Johnson has already said there is "no question" that restrictions will be tightened as infections continue to rise. Sunday saw another 50,000 new confirmed cases for the sixth day running.

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