Column by Toby Savage, leader of South Gloucestershire Council.

Two years ago, everyone’s lives in South Gloucestershire, the region, the country, and the world were turned upside down when England entered into the first lockdown. The minute’s silence on Wednesday for the National Day of Reflection provided time to remember the 518 people in our area who died of Covid-19, and 186,094 people who have died across the UK. More than that, there are thousands of people whose lives were changed due to a spell in intensive care or the impact on a family member.

This reflection was also an opportunity to pay tribute to those whose contribution has helped vulnerable people in the most need over the last two years. The Royal Mail’s Heroes of the Covid Pandemic stamps, personally selected by The Prince of Wales, reflect where the nation’s gratitude for getting us through these difficult times lies. NHS workers, food bank delivery drivers, Sir Captain Tom Moore and others are all depicted. To those must surely be added residential and nursing care home workers, pharmacists, many of our own frontline council workers who have kept communities going and many more people.

Testing has played a critical part in managing Covid-19. The Council’s testing team, including our pink testing vans, have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to hand out over 74,000 lateral flow tests (LFTs) and deliver some 500,000 LFTs to forty South Gloucestershire pharmacies since November 2021. Our partners, like Circadian, our leisure centre operator, have provided facilities to host local testing sites so that residents could test closer to home. Thank you to those who have gone above and beyond to tackle the virus head-on.

Although the government’s national Covid-19 testing programme ends on 31 March, there is still a crucial role that people can play to keep the country ahead of the virus. Wear a mask in crowded spaces, open windows or doors to allow fresh air in when inside and get vaccinated. Vaccination rates in South Gloucestershire are at 87.3%, 83.4%, and 69.7% for the first, second, and third doses, respectively which means many people in our area are unvaccinated. Tens of thousands have taken a first and second jab, but not come forward yet to get their booster or third dose.

The phenomenal vaccination programme has saved countless lives and built community defences, allowing the nation to learn to live with Covid-19. If you have not booked your jab, please do so as soon as possible – search ‘Coronavirus vaccination’ online to book digitally or call 119. Getting a jab is a national effort to protect yourself and your loved ones.