Here's the latest Argus column by Torfaen County Borough Council leader Cllr Anthony Hunt:

THESE are trying times, and I’m keeping everyone affected by this awful pandemic in my prayers.

But we can get through this, because in the worst of times, I see the best of our communities.

I see our fantastic public sector workforce going above and beyond the call of duty. NHS workers and social care workers taking care of the ill and the vulnerable. School staff taking care of the children of key workers, while helping other children to keep learning at home.

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Refuse workers and other council workers not only keeping services running in tough conditions and with depleted numbers, but volunteering to help out in other essential areas.

The dedication of these people makes me proud to be their leader.

My councillors, of all political persuasions, deserve great credit too. Labour, Tory and Independent councillors have recognised that this is no time for point-scoring. Instead they’ve rolled up their sleeves and worked together in their communities.

Together, we’ve pledged over £20,000 from our small schemes allowances to help set up a Coronavirus Support Fund. To date, that fund has helped provide £6,000 of food for our local Trussell Trust foodbank, £500 of toiletries for local hospital patients who can’t have visitors and a £12,000 fund for the community groups and organisations helping with the response across Torfaen.

I’m also proud of the public sector partners we have here in Torfaen. For example, Bron Afon Community Housing are helping secure food orders. Torfaen Leisure Trust are helping us contact and support people on the Shielding Scheme. Torfaen Voluntary Alliance are co-ordinating and assisting local voluntary groups.

Volunteers are also making a vital difference in our communities. They are selflessly helping those in need with food shopping, collecting prescriptions, keeping an eye on vulnerable neighbours and speaking to friends, family members and neighbours on the phone or on social media to stop self-isolation turning into loneliness and despair.

Other workers are also heroes, from workers in food shops and pharmacies, to bus drivers, to employees in factories that need to stay open to produce vital products.

You should all be proud of the part you are playing in these difficult times.

As the Queen said in her address at the weekend, if we pull together, we can get through this and things can get back to normal. But doing so requires each of us to take personal responsibility.

After a sunny weekend, I’d like to thank the vast majority of Torfaen residents who stuck to the social distancing guidelines. You sacrificed your own short-term pleasure for the good of others, and for that I am grateful. Your self-discipline will help us get through this pandemic quicker, and will save lives.

However, if you are one of the few people still not respecting the government guidelines, please think again. Your selfish actions will cost lives and prolong this crisis. One of the many issues with this virus is that people can be unaware carriers. Don’t let your actions and their impact on others sit on your conscience.

I’m pleased to report that public areas across Torfaen were far quieter than usual over the weekend, with most people using our parks doing so within the social distancing guidelines and using them only for daily exercise.

Together, if we take personal responsibility and look out for each other, we can beat this.