Swale council's top politician has released a statement to residents thanking them for continuing social distancing.

The authority leader, Cllr Roger Truelove (Lab), was reacting to how households had responded to government guidance following the coronavirus outbreak.

People have been told to work from home where possible, not go out unless it is essential and to stay at least 2 metres away from others not in your household.

Cllr Truelove said: "I would like to thank everyone in Swale for responding as a community to the government’s call for social distancing, to protect the NHS and to save lives.

"It requires tremendous self-discipline at a time of great anxiety when the support of others is so vital.

"I would like to share with you my pride at the way our council officers are adapting to new challenges and the way people in the community are rallying to help each other.

"I would particularly like to say thank you to the many heroes keeping us going - in the NHS, in social care, collecting our waste, keeping our supermarkets going, teachers, postmen and women and many others in key ways.

"I would like to thank everyone in Swale for responding as a community."

"The government makes key strategic decisions but it is local councils who have to deliver. The government called on us to set up community hubs to help vulnerable people and we have done that."

The hubs have been set up to help coordinate the response to over 1.5million people who have been told to stay at home for at least 12 weeks.

Volunteers will work to deliver food parcels and medicine where the recipients have no family to help.

The government also demanded local councils make sure all rough sleepers are accommodated.

He added that challenges remained in fighting homelessness and managing waste collections.

Cllr Truelove added: "Income is seriously reduced whilst spending has to increase.

"I hope it is understood too, that when we collect council tax it is only 10% that we retain for our council, whilst the rest goes to the county council, who are providing vital care services, to the police, fire and parishes. The government call is for us to spend now and reconcile later, but all councils have to be able to sustain their cash flow."

And in a stark comment he said he believed we were living in unprecedented times.

"I am 75 years old. There has never been a moment like this before in my lifetime," he said.

"This is an awful crisis, for our health and wellbeing and for our economy. It requires courage and unity of purpose but we must win and we will.

"Our first priority is this fight, but we need to look to the future too.

"When this is over, there will be work to do, getting back to normal but also continuing with the community improvements that we want to deliver."

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