Heartening to see the country coming together

Many of us started Monday with sore heads and broken hearts after England’s dramatic loss of the Euro football championship to the Italian side on penalties. Whilst we share the team’s disappointment at the result, it was heartening to see the whole country coming together to support them after their years-long journey to reach the final.

Many who would not normally consider themselves football fans were drawn to the excitement surrounding the match, which was a captivating spectacle of teamwork, discipline and skill in the face of challenging opponents.

We wish them the very best in their 2022 World Cup campaign next year. I would also like to thank all of those – many in our public services or key workers in the private sector – who on these occasions are firmly at work whilst others get to enjoy the moment with their families.

Monday, will bring a different release as the country unlocks into the fourth stage of the roadmap, after a four-week delay from June 21. This decision – which I know will not please all as it was made on a balance of risks – was based on four tests: the success of the vaccine rollout, evidence the vaccine has broken the link between cases and hospital admissions, the NHS coping and that no new variants emerge.

By removing outright legal prohibitions, the Government is moving Covid to the same domain of individual responsibility as many other walks of life.

We rely upon this to move out of the way of a blind person when walking upon the pavement, to catch a sneeze when we have the flu or to immunize our children against juvenile diseases.

It is not fool-proof but it does treat the nation as adults as we learn to live with the virus.

It is particularly important to seize the opportunity to do so now, because with the help of the summer and school holidays, re-opening will be less dangerous than if the virus were given the advantage of winter. The removal of restrictions is of course a lifeline for the many businesses who are on their last gasp.

Sussex has been doing its part to get us to this point, and all the vaccination centres, medical staff, volunteers and pharmaceutical companies deserve our thanks and recognition. It’s a continuing effort that has now been going on for eight long months. As of the end of June, the county surpassed an incredible 1.9 million jabs.

Whilst we celebrate this success, second dose vaccinations are a priority, and I would encourage everyone to book theirs at the earliest opportunity so that we can continue to put Covid behind us.