While we are in a much better position than the hot spots, our city's private schools have explained to the Express how they are dealing with the border closures.

The Armidale School (TAS) is planning for the management of the non-NSW boarders in the next school holiday period, while PLC is managing the same issue of boarders who cannot return home.

Meanwhile we have seen a big increase in the use of telehealth appointments during recent months.

The community-minded GP's in the region have increased bulk-billing telehealth services during the pandemic.

While that has been welcome, an opinion piece from one of our region's journalists questions the ability of Australians to judge risk.

Andrew Messenger writes we certainly do not like the idea that we ought to take some action, or offer up some sacrifice, in the vain hope that everyone else will do the same and together create some collective good.

Aside from the pandemic, the drama that was Armidale Regional Council continues, despite the councillors being suspended for a further three months.

Five suspended councillors have complained in a letter to the council that the administrator, Viv May, was no longer consulting them.

Maybe they don't understand what suspended means, but Mr May made the point to the Express that he did not feel he had to consult with them because they had been suspended.

Mr May has said he needed more time to address a myriad of issues at a council that was "dysfunctional at all levels".

On the crime front, a man caught up in a police chase eight years ago which eventually left a passerby with life-long injuries has pleaded guilty.

Last week police also arrested a teenager they allege was responsible for the attempted carjacking in Armidale on August 29.

Today I wanted to welcome our new senior journalist aboard. Vanessa Arundale is no stranger to the region having worked for the Walcha News from 2008 to 2016, and for the last four years as a group journalist covering the Northern Tablelands.

You can email Vanessa at vanessa.arundale@austcommunitymedia.com.au.

Thanks for reading and I hope you have a great week.