High Peak MP says we all owe essential workers a huge debt of gratitude

Outside of our hospitals and care homes, millions of essential workers are doing their jobs and helping to keep the High Peak and the rest of the country moving.

Police are still on the streets, keeping us safe, postal workers are still delivering letters and packages and supermarket workers are still stocking shelves.

These are just some of the unsung heroes who are essential to the fight against this pandemic.

During this national emergency, we must not forget how these brave people are putting themselves at risk in order to help the rest of us in the High Peak.

As the son of a former postman, I took special care to thank all postal workers on National Postal Workers Day this year for all their hard work and dedication to their profession.

We cannot win this fight without our essential workers.

That is why I was delighted by the news that testing for coronavirus has been extended to all essential workers and their households if they have symptoms.

This is the biggest expansion of testing yet.

Testing is a vital tool to help the Government and scientists to understand the spread of the virus.

Essential workers can now register online at GOV.UK and book a test directly for themselves or a household member if they are experiencing a high temperature or a new continuous cough.

Once registered, essential workers or their household member can book an appointment at one of more than 30 drive-through testing sites with results sent by text within 48 hours.

Alternatively, they can receive a home testing kit and see the results by text within 72 hours of collecting the kit.

I am encouraging High Peak residents to share this information with friends and neighbours who are essential workers.

By getting the word out, we are helping the national effort.

I am also constructively putting pressure on the Government to stick to its word on delivering more tests to help life in the High Peak return to normal.