The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “This morning I met with Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi alongside mayors from across the country. I raised the need for clarity on the Government’s guidance and support for those living and working in Hounslow, and also the impact of new guidance on Heathrow airport. In order to prevent the further spread of the virus, including variants of concerns, clear and timely communication with local leaders and public health officials is crucial. I’m pleased that the Minister agreed to take these concerns back to Government.
“The Government advises that where possible everyone should avoid travelling in and out of the area unless it is essential, that those in Hounslow should continue to work from home, should meet others outside rather than inside where possible and keep two metres apart from anyone not in your household or support bubble.
“Surge testing is taking place and more vaccines are being made available, and it’s vital that anyone who is offered a test or a vaccine takes it as soon as possible. I also continue to urge the Government to increase the availability of the vaccine to younger age groups where this variant is spreading.
“We’ve worked hard to reduce the number of cases in London but I’m confident that by all doing what we can to reduce the spread of this variant, we will get over this latest hurdle.”