BLACK We must start looking to the future
BY PAISLEY AND RENFREWSHIRE SOUTH MP MHAIRI BLACK
I hope all Paisley Daily Express readers had a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone in Renfrewshire for the sacrifices you have all had to make over the past year due to the global pandemic.
I know they have been hard, but I hope that you managed to get a bit of time to enjoy yourself in some way over the festive period.
The new variant of Covid- 19 that is circulating around the UK has an increased infection rate and this means that we have had to go back into level 4 across mainland Scotland as we head into the new year.
It is absolutely vital at this time that we continue to follow the health advice and the Scottish Government’s FACTS.
The Level 4 measures in Renfrewshire will be in place for three weeks and started on Boxing Day. This will be reviewed after two weeks.
The measures are in place to stop the growth of the virus, to keep as many people as healthy as possible and to keep the pressure off of our hospitals and our NHS staff over the coming weeks.
People in Scotland have started to receive the Covid-19 vaccine throughout December.
The Scottish Government is undertaking the largest vaccination programme of its kind ever.
Those with the greatest clinical need such as care home residents and staff, over 80s and our health and social care workers are being prioritised as is advised by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
The Scottish Government are aiming to have the first phase of the vaccine protection process completed by Spring 2021.
Once this process is completed and priority groups are protected it is hoped the rest of the adult population will then be vaccinated.
The year 2020 really has been like no other as we have come face to face with the reality of a global pandemic.
This has brought with it unprecedented challenges that all of us, as a community have had to face together.
Not being able to meet with family members and friends, uncertainty surrounding business, employment and our economy and so many people have lost loved ones.
The people of Renfrewshire have done themselves proud in their collective spirit and helping out those that have needed it the most.
As we leave 2020 behind us, hope is on the horizon in the form of the Covid-19 vaccine.
We must now look towards a better future for our local community here in Renfrewshire.
A future with life fulfilment, opportunity, happiness and satisfaction at its absolute core.
As we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic we must envision an independent future for our country.
This is how I believe we move forward. Only with Scottish independence can we build towards a society that puts those core values front and centre.
Myself and my team in the office would like to wish all of you a happy New Year and hope that you have a fantastic 2021 filled with good times.