Covid: Edinburgh Council is doing what it can to help everyone through the new lockdown – Lesley Macinnes

Many people are both weary, and worried, about the continuing impact of new pandemic restrictions on themselves and their jobs, about their loved ones and their neighbours.

People in Edinburgh have worked extremely hard over the course of this pandemic to do the right thing and follow public health guidance. The new lockdown has not been introduced lightly but in response to very real current dangers. It’s vital we all keep up the good work of last year to reduce this virus’s damage.

But we do have to recognise how challenging this is for many people and do whatever we can to help reduce difficulties, wherever we can. That can mean anything from helping out a neighbour with shopping, calling a friend or clearing a path in bad weather. Wonderful examples of that kind of community spirit are all over the city, even after all these months.

In my own community in Gilmerton, there’s been brilliant work done by many of the local young people, through Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre, to bring food and social contact to many neighbours throughout last year and into this one. It’s made a big difference to those on the receiving end of these kindnesses and to those making a difference.

In the council, we are also doing as much as we can to minimise the extra impact of the new restrictions. Many of the services that we deliver are vital to keeping the city going.

Our main aim is to keep the public safe and support our most vulnerable citizens. We’ll be continuing to monitor how we deliver our services and then adjust operations, where necessary and possible, to ensure as little disruption as possible.

Postponing the return of schools during January is undoubtedly producing additional challenges for families. We’re continuing to work hard on our digital education rollout. This will help us to ensure that all children have access to the resources they need to keep on learning. Free school meals are also continuing throughout this month.

We’re keeping playparks and parks open to help shake off the effects of being indoors all the time. Getting outside for exercise is important for our physical and mental health.

We make almost half a million waste collections every week and, despite the operational challenges of both Covid and winter weather, these are continuing as normal.

Despite the obstacles that individuals, residents, businesses, third-sector organisations, the NHS and public sector share, we can look forward to positive changes. The hope given by the vaccination programme is real and, as 2021 progresses, should bring some relief.

But meanwhile we must all stick to the public health guidance and stay at home, except for truly essential purposes. It will help us reduce infection rates and protect the NHS’s capacity to care for us. Their efforts have been heroic, along with other emergency services.

You can find out a lot more about council actions and specific measures being put in place to support individuals, businesses and organisations during these difficult times by looking at the council website.

Thank you for sticking with it – it means so much to so many.

Lesley Macinnes is SNP councillor for Liberton/Gilmerton

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