Despite all the different local issues I’ve covered in the office this week there is only one topic to write about: Covid-19, the Coronavirus.
The first thing to say is the biggest thank you imaginable to all those working to keep us functioning. NHS workers, the police, fire service and ambulance of course, but also many others such as delivery drivers and food producers - all playing their part in these difficult times.
This virus affects all of us. I am in self isolation myself as one of my family has symptoms. It is not easy to be locked indoors for 14 days, but we all need to do this to help others. I know how many people will be worried by different impacts. My son’s GCSEs this summer are cancelled, I have elderly relatives who are more at risk, and my brother runs his own business which is effectively now closed down.
The government is helping with massive amounts of money being made available to help businesses and even to pay staff salaries but we must all acknowledge that life will be different for some time. We are going to need local organisation and last week I arranged the first meeting of the many parish councils in the Moorlands to plan a volunteer network to help those particularly vulnerable.
The main thing we can all do to help is to follow the medical advice, observe social distancing and hand hygiene rules so that we can reduce deaths and get back to normal as soon as possible. The alternative is putting ourselves and our loved ones at real risk.
The latest information is on my website, karenbradley.co.uk. My team and I will do all we can to help if you need it. We can and will get through this if we all pull together.