THE coronavirus pandemic is the greatest threat our country has faced for decades, and nothing short of a national emergency, writes Sajid Javid in his Letter from Westminster.

I know that this will be an exceptionally difficult time for our families, for friends and for many members of the local community – especially those that are most vulnerable to the virus.

Now, more than any time in our recent history, we will be judged by the compassion we show one another.

Many of you will have watched the Prime Minister’s address on Monday.

In it, he made clear that without a huge national effort to halt the growth of the virus there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope, meaning that more people are likely to die.

That’s why it’s critically important that you and your family stay at home during this pandemic.

By doing so you’re protecting the NHS, and saving the lives of some of the vulnerable people in our community.

For the next three weeks, you must only leave your home for one of four reasons - to shop for basic necessities, to undertake one form of exercise per day, for a medical need – for example providing care to a vulnerable person – or to travel to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home.

When we look back on this time, I want to remember how we thought first of one another, undertook a collective community effort, and stood together in the face of adversity.

Finally, thank you to the dedicated public servants and volunteers across Bromsgrove who are working flat out to support our community.

As ever, anyone who needs my assistance shouldn’t hesitate to get in touch at sajid.javid.mp@parliament.uk.