The House of Commons debated new public health regulations brought by the Government in response to the spread of the new Omnicron coronavirus variant, Mr Brine was among a host of Conservative backbenchers who spoke during the debate.
The Member of Parliament for Winchester & Chandler’s Ford spoke during the debate to give a stern view of the new regulations, specifically denouncing the comments of Jenny Harries, of the UK Health Security Agency, who earlier this morning during a media interview said that people should not socialise; “when we don’t particularly need to”.
Mr Brine took the time to voice his concern over new self-isolation rules, saying; “The self-isolation regulations bother me a great deal more. Under new regulation… if one child in a class of 30 has had close contact with someone who “is suspected of, or confirmed as, having an Omicron variant”, presumably the other 29 are out.
“We are not just looking at a pingdemic in our economy and in our businesses; we are looking at a pingdemic that will devastate education again. After everything that we have learned—everything that I have felt in my own family—are we really, seriously, going to do that to our children again?”
Among changes to self-isolation the Government also announced that face coverings have become mandatory again on public transport and shops. There was also confirmation that All international arrivals to take a Day 2 PCR test and self-isolate until they receive a negative test.
Steve Brine raised the issue of travel, saying; “It will worry the travel industry that the regulations that have not been subject to a motion today are not being debated in the House—and yes, I am greatly concerned.”
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