Hopes of a ‘great British Summer’ in Southport raised by Health Secretary

Southport businesses were given some cause for optimism tonight as Health & Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said British people could be “confident” about a “Great British Summer”. 

And he raised hopes that 2021 could eventually become the year of the great staycation, saying he has planned to take his Summer holiday in Cornwall. 

Earlier today, the UK closed all overseas travel corridors, which previously allowed arrivals from some countries to avoid having to quarantine. The move is designed to prevent Covid variants being brought into this country. 

Speaking at the Downing Street press conference this evening, Mr Hancock said more than 4million people in the UK have now been given Covid-19 vaccines with 10 more mass vaccination centres opening today. 

From today, people aged over 70 and those who are clinically and medically vulnerable will begin to be contacted to arrange their Covid vaccinations. 

The Government has said that it aims to reduce Coronavirus restrictions gradually as Covid cases, Covid deaths and Covid hospital admissions fall, and as vaccinations increase. 

Over 9.1million visitors came to Southport in 2019, with over 6,500 jobs in our town directly dependent on tourism. 

In tonight’s Downing Street conference, Matt Hancock said that British people could be “confident” about a “Great British Summer”.

The Health Secretary also revealed his own Summer getaway plans, saying: “On the Summer holidays, I’m going to Cornwall.”

“And I said before, I think we’re going to have a great British Summer.”

However, he added a note of caution, saying there was lots to do before that stage can be reached. 

He said: “We’ve got a lot of work to do between now and then.

“What we can do is see the line of sight to vaccinating everybody by September, and anything before that would be a bonus.

“As Foreign Secretary (Dominic Raab) said yesterday, we’re driving this as fast as we possibly can.”

Experts have mixed opinions on when international travel will resume.

Television’s Dr Hilary today urged hopeful holidaymakers to be “realistic” about their plans when he appeared on ITV’s Lorraine.

He suggested travel might not be a possibility until the Autumn

“We have got to be realistic, the vaccination process is going to take some time,” said Dr Hilary.

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