We have seen this week that coronavirus does not discriminate – we can all catch it, we can all carry it and it can cause devastating health issues for anybody. My thoughts are with anyone who has lost family or friends and I wish everyone fighting this illness, including our Prime Minister, a speedy recovery.

This weekend will not be a normal Easter Bank Holiday weekend. Just as the last three weeks have not been business as usual for anyone, including Thurrock Council.

The best way to show loved ones you care for them this Easter is to stay at home. No matter how nice the weather is over the long weekend I implore you not to go out as normal, not to meet in the parks and not to have Sunday lunch with your extended family.

It is disappointing that we have seen some truly selfish behaviour over the last few weeks. We have had reports of people breaking barriers and locks to enter plays areas, groups of people meeting up at parks to have picnics or barbecues and even had reports of people having campfires in parks which is obviously dangerous and completely unacceptable.

This kind of behaviour puts lives at risk and undermines the hard work being done by our colleagues in the NHS who are fighting day in and day out to keep people suffering the worst effects of COVID-19 alive.

We are keeping the parks open so that our residents have green spaces to carry out their daily exercise while following government guidance to close all park play areas and outdoor exercise area. It is important that you use our parks responsibly and make sure that when you’re out you keep your distance from anyone you don’t live with.

Essex Police and Thurrock Council enforcement officers will be working all weekend patrolling the borough to help keep our residents safe.

Make sure you are following government advice to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.

I would like to thank all the key workers who will be working this weekend and wish everyone a safe and happy Easter.

This will be an Easter weekend unlike any other as government advice for people to stay at home remains in place.

The only reason anyone should go out is to shop for essentials like food and medicine or to take exercise once a day strictly following social distancing measures of keeping two metres, or six feet, away from anyone you don’t live with.

These measures remain in place to slow the spread of the virus and reduce the rate of infection. It is especially important that you limit your contact with those aged over 70 or those with underlying health conditions. You can learn more by reading the government's guidance on social distancing.

The simple fact is that by reducing the rate of infection by 50% now in 30 days we will have cut the number of people infected by more than 95%

The best way to show family and friends you care for them this Easter is to stay at home and not arrange to meet or socialise.

Thurrock Council has already distributed millions of pounds in government grants to hundreds of local businesses but we know that the current situation has had a financial impact on many people living in the borough.

Support is available for residents and businesses alike. To find out what financial support is available and whether you qualify visit our Coronavirus Financial Support webpage

Over the last week I have seen positive signs that the government’s message that we stay at home and only go out for essential journeys or daily exercise is being taken seriously.

There are fewer people in the parks and on the streets but we need to make sure we continue to heed these warnings and follow the guidance. However we are still getting too many complaints that shops which should be closed are open and we will continue to take action to make sure that the rules are followed.

Life is not carrying on as normal right now as the borough, and the country, face the most difficult situation many of us are likely to see in our lifetimes. However despite this situation there is much going on which shows how hope will always triumph over adversity.

There are volunteers coming forward to help as part of Thurrock Coronavirus Community Action in such large numbers that we are struggling to get them all registered. We are working as hard as we can and I would like to assure anyone who wants to help that we thank them for coming forward and will get back to them very soon.

There is also our frontline staff working hard to make sure that vital services continue during this period. Just this week Morrisons in Grays thanked our waste crews and environment team by giving them an Easter egg each. This is a wonderful gesture, something they and I really appreciate and I would like to thank them for the generosity and warmth they have shown.

I know that we are going through a difficult time but this week I have seen that even though we are more often than not physically apart, in spirit and in resolve we are closer than ever and the incredible sense of community we have in Thurrock is shining through.

So please remember your neighbour might not appreciate your choice and volume of music or might not be in a position to throw the errant football back over the fence straight away. But equally we have to accept  that essential road works, building works and other activities may well still continue to take place and could disrupt those working from home.  

Please take care of yourselves and please remember that while we are all at home it is more important than ever that we make every effort to be considerate neighbours and look out for one another.

In their first week of operation Thurrock Coronavirus Community Action (TCCA) has spoken with more than 900 vulnerable people and had over 350 people come forward to volunteer their time to help.

TCCA brings together the local voluntary sector and council to create a service to support residents who do not have help available to them from family or friends and require support including food shopping, prescription collections or someone to simply speak to in these difficult times.

For other residents who have been identified by the NHS as being in the shielding category and are self-isolating for 12 weeks due to their particularly high risk because of serious health conditions, please do respond to the government directly by following the link or call their number in the text or letter you have received to sign up for specific support. If you have not been contacted and believe you fall into this category please contact your GP.

To make an enquiry, please go to the Thurrock Coronavirus Community Action web page and use the online form, those that do not have access to the internet can call the help line on 01375 511 002 (open every day from 9am to 5pm, including the Easter Bank Holidays).

You can also register your interest in volunteering via the Thurrock Coronavirus Community Action web page.