Hitchin Nub News is proud have columns from many big names in our town, including Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, leader of North Herts District Council.

Back in May Elizabeth became only the second woman to lead NHDC in its 47 year history.

So, read on for the Labour group leader's must-read take here at Hitchin Nub News - as she reflects on the current Covid situation and urges caution.

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Looking out my window this lunchtime listening to the weekly Covid briefing from the Director of Public Health at Herts County Council I'm struck by the odd dichotomy of a packed Wembley Stadium, a thing of joy after so long, and a looming Council meeting where we must sit one metre apart, and wear masks for the duration.

Earlier this month we celebrated various "thank you" days for our key and essential workers, as well as the 73rd birthday of the NHS.

We recognised the sacrifice and hard work of the people who kept us safe and kept our towns functioning throughout the pandemic.

The value of a bin man can no longer be underestimated. Nor can their work ethic as crews worked shorthanded to keep our service functioning, being flexible and adaptable as required to cover absences.

Our green spaces were vital to our physical and mental wellbeing, facilitating our 60 minutes of exercise, and as the virus was controlled giving us a safe space to meet and consolidate our social links.

Those spaces have been kept clean and maintained by staff at John O'Conner. You'll have seen the overflow rubbish cages which have been placed on Windmill Hill to try and capture the litter that's often left behind when we have good weather.

Along with our phenomenal NHS, it's workers in these essential support services who have got us through things so far, and will contribute to saving our summer.

But the most important thing people can do to Save Our Summer is to get vaccinated, and keep doing the things we've been doing to reduce the spread of infection. Give people space. Wear a mask indoors. Keep workplaces and social spaces ventilated. Get tested if you have symptoms and self-isolate.

The hard truth is that Covid won't go away on an arbitrary date simply because a politician snaps their fingers.

We've got to look after each other and move forward at the pace which is right for our community.

To do anything less would be an enormous slap in the face to all those people we spent the beginning of July saying thank you to.

It's easy to forget after the jubilation of a semi-final win that there is still a deadly virus out there and that transmissions are on the rise.

As a parent, I receive regular letters telling me yet another bubble at the school must self-isolate.

One child went back to school after isolating last week, only for the other to have to isolate this week.

A premature relaxation of our self-control and responsibility risks the transmission pattern we've observed in schools replicating itself across our communities.

This is a very pessimistic column. But we are seeing a third wave.

And I would be irresponsible if I didn't remind you to be responsible.