We must keep our discipline and protect each other

It's good news to see that infection rates are coming down all across London, including in Sutton. But they are still very high and our hospitals are working hard to cope with the number of people being admitted every day. We need to carry on complying with the Covid restrictions, keeping ourselves, our friends and family and neighbours safe, and helping to bring down the infection rates. That way we can once again meet up and enjoy each other's company in the future.

It's also good to see how many people have received the first vaccination in our borough. Everyone is very complimentary about how well it is organised and how helpful and friendly the staff and volunteers are as they put everyone at their ease. Our GPs are confident that by 15 February they will have offered the first vaccination to everyone in the top four priority groups and have told me how grateful they are to all the many volunteers who have come forward to help them in this huge life-saving task.

Sutton Council is working with the GPs to identify new vaccination sites in more central and accessible locations, and we hope these will be up and running in a few weeks. In the meantime, please do encourage everyone who receives the vaccination invitation letter to take up the offer to keep themselves and everyone else safe and well.

So many people have gone above and beyond during the last ten months and I was delighted to take part in the Sutton Community Awards this week. You can watch the virtual ceremony on the Council's YouTube channel. It was inspiring to hear about the nearly 300 nominations of people, groups and organisations who have worked so hard to keep us safe, provide support and comfort, and give us hope for the future. We are truly blessed to have such committed community heroes in our midst. Please do watch the video - it will lift your hearts to hear these inspiring stories. Congratulations to the winners and to everyone who took part. You are all champions.