Boris Johnson has thanked the people of the north west for putting up with 'a huge amount' during the pandemic.
The Prime Minister has said those who have faced Covid-19 restrictions and seen higher infection rates for longer have 'contributed a massive amount to the national effort to get Covid done'.
He was speaking during a visit to AstraZeneca’s Macclesfield campus to view a £380m investment in a new advanced medicine manufacturing facility and Global Medicines Packaging Centre.
Asked if Greater Manchester could face further local lockdowns if infection rates remain high, Mr Johnson said there is nothing at this stage to suggest deviation from the current roadmap.
He said: “We look at the data from around the country and in the north west and north east and in other parts - where it’s been maybe a little bit stubborn in the last year or so. But we see nothing in the data to make us think that we will have to deviate from the roadmap.
“I’ve looked very carefully at all the data from across all countries. There are different bits that have been proceeding at different paces and actually there have been times when the decline in the north west has been faster than in other parts of the country. I well remember.
“At the moment we think that the roadmap is the right one, it’s clear and we’re sticking to it for the whole country, including the north west.
“I want to say one thing – the people of this part of the world have put up with a huge amount and have contributed a massive amount to the national effort to get Covid done and I know how tough it’s been for families across the country.”
The M.E.N. also asked Mr Johnson if the government recognises that for many people – especially those in lower paid and insecure work – difficulty isolating is still a barrier to staying safe.
In February the M.E.N found that thousands of the lowest paid people in Greater Manchester have been rejected after applying for financial support to self-isolate due to Covid-19.
At that point or 59 per cent of applications across the region’s ten councils for support under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme had been rejected.
Reasons for refusal varied and included no loss of income for self-employed people who were already receiving maximum Universal Credit and applications from those living outside the area.
Mr Johnson said he understand that self isolation is essential even though it may feel like 'an imposition'.
He said: “I agree that self isolation is incredibly important and we do depend on people to do it.
“Local councils in addition to the £500 payments, have been given extra cash to help people who are, for one reason or another, having a particularly tough time self isolating. So we are trying to support them through that means as well. But I do think it’s vital they do it [self isolate].
“The thing to do now if you’re in the 1 – 9 groups, you’ve got a few days to get your first jab so I hope everyone in that group – which is a large part of the country – and by the way a huge proportion of those most vulnerable to the disease, I hope they will come forward and get their jabs.
“In the end it’s better for them and better for the whole of society to do this.
“I know it feels like an imposition, but it’s something that can protect your relatives from death and it’s the right thing to do.”
The £380m investment in a new manufacturing and packing facility at the AstraZeneca site in Macclesfield provides capacity to meet rising global demand for the company’s oncology medicine Zoladex – which relies on the advanced manufacturing capabilities and highly-skilled workforce in Cheshire.
