Dear constituent

I am writing to you with a further update on the Coronavirus crisis.

Testing
 
As you may have seen, testing is now to be extended to everyone in the UK over the age of 5 who develops symptoms of the virus. Key workers will still be given priority but if you feel unwell you are now able to get a test – though it will, I suspect, take a few days for the new system to bed in.
 
If you are unwell and want to be tested, you need to apply via the online portal on the government website. 
 
The link is here.

If you do need to be tested, you can ask for a home testing kit which will be sent to you in the post, but to be honest I suspect it is quicker and easier for most people in this area to simply book a test at the local testing centre in the main car park at Chessington World of Adventures. If you go there you will be given a test kit to use in your car, and you will be asked to take a swab from the back of your throat and another from your nose. The swabs are then sealed and sent off to a lab for testing and you will receive the result by email or text within a few days.
 
As yet there is no date for the introduction of the other tests which tell if you have already had the virus, but I would expect those to start being used next month.
 
If you do have symptoms and test positive, I would advise you to let your GP practice know.

Working safely during Coronavirus
 
As Britain gets back to work after the lockdown, you might want to check the guidance for employers and employees about how to handle the current challenges if you are concerned about the way social distancing is being managed in your workplace. The details are here.

Likewise for anyone wanting to know more about the proposal to bring some more pupils back into schools in June, the latest published guidance is here.
 
No final decision on whether to go ahead with this will be taken until a few days before, when it is clear what is happening to infection rates.

Food boxes

Apologies. When I highlighted the food boxes now available from ASDA, I didn’t realise that the web address they had given me had a typo. The boxes can now be accessed through the main ASDA website.
 
If you are one of those who are receiving Government food boxes because you are shielding and are worried that they are about to end as the lockdown starts to ease, don’t be concerned. These will be continuing for the time being. I will let you know if I am aware that this will change.  

Country car parks

For those of you taking regular exercise, most car parks are now open at local beauty spots and many of the nicest walking areas are still pretty empty – as I have found in recent evenings. So it’s easy to go a little further afield than you have been.

Local charities
 
In these updates I have been highlighting the work of local charities during the crisis. This time I would like to thank local Rotary Clubs for what they are doing. For example the Epsom Rotary Club has just donated a number of tablet computers for patients at Epsom Hospital so that they can keep in touch with home more easily. Thank you to them and to all the other charities doing important work at this difficult time.

Best wishes
 
Chris Grayling

The full list of government guidelines and advice is available here.

Contact Chris:

Email: chris.grayling.mp@parliament.uk

Constituency Office: +44 (0)1372 271 036

Address: 212 Barnett Wood Lane, Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 2DB