Halton to receive extra support after Covid case rise

The support package aims to tackle a rise in cases of the Delta variant, which was first recorded in India, and has been announced for more areas of the north west and Birmingham.

The additional support will be introduced in Liverpool City Region, Warrington, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Blackpool and Birmingham, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said today, Monday.

The package, which is the same as was announced for Greater Manchester and Lancashire last week, comes following a spike in the number of cases of the Delta variant.

Residents will also be given extra guidance, including to minimise travel in and out of the affected areas.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: "We are doing everything we can to stop the spread of the Delta variant, and working with local authorities, we are providing a strengthened package of support in areas where cases of the variant are increasing.

"We know this approach has made a real impact in south London and in Bolton where we have seen it stall rising cases.

"I urge people living these areas to get tested, come forward for your vaccine as soon as you are eligible and make sure to get the all-important second jab - that is how we will beat this virus."

Local authorities will be given additional resources, including military aid, to help with delivering tests and there will be support for supervised in-school testing and surge testing.

The Government will also provide support to maximise vaccine uptake by "developing new capacity" and increasing communications to reach different communities.

Chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, Dr Jenny Harries, said: "The Delta variant is now the dominant strain across the UK, with cases continuing to rise in some areas.

"People in these areas can help protect their community by remaining cautious, by working from home if possible and remembering to practise 'hands, face, space and fresh air'.

"Getting the vaccine gives a strong level of protection against this variant and I strongly recommend that everyone gets both jabs when the NHS invites you - it will protect you and your loved ones."

The help on offer for those designated as an enhanced response area includes military support with testing and supervised in-school testing, and greater communication with disadvantaged groups.

Local directors of public health will also be able to reintroduce face coverings in communal areas in schools if they want to.

As part of the government guidance, residents are encouraged to get tested twice a week, minimise travel in and out of the affected areas, avoid meeting indoors. and continue to work from home if possible.

Introduction of this additional support will be led by local authorities to ensure the right steps are taken at the right time.

Support available to local areas will include:

• Additional resources to help local authorities with testing, logistics, planning and workforce to assist with testing, door-to-door visits to engage with residents and other activities. These may come from the Surge Rapid Response Teams, from military aid or other sources depending on requirements.
• Wastewater testing samples being prioritised for sequencing.
• Specialist communications support to increase awareness and focus engagement with disadvantaged groups.
• Maximising vaccine uptake by expanding existing channels, developing new capacity and increasing local and targeted communications to reach different communities.
• Supervised in-school testing and discretion to reintroduce face coverings in indoor communal areas and classrooms in schools if they and directors of public health decide it is appropriate.
• Surge testing and enhanced contact tracing.
• Enhanced monitoring (genomic sequencing, genotype assay testing).

Ian Ashworth, chair of the Cheshire and Merseyside Directors of Public Health Board, says the move was only a matter of time.

“We have seen cases of the new Delta variant of coronavirus increase dramatically over the last couple of weeks in Cheshire, in particular significant outbreaks related to pubs and in our schools,” he commented.

“We know what impacts this can have on our physical health, but it also significantly impacts on the mental health of those affected when we see education lost and businesses having to close.

“Having seen the substantial increase in transmission in our neighbours in Greater Manchester, it was sadly only a matter of time before the spread was to be seen across Cheshire given our strong links with friends and family, work and travel.

“Alongside neighbouring boroughs, the government has therefore identified Cheshire as an area to provide additional national support to maximise our own local response and help prevent further cases.

“We know the importance of the vaccine programme, with all the current evidence showing the massively positive protective benefits of having both doses of the vaccine in helping prevent serious illness and hospitalisation of the new Delta variant.

“We are therefore asking for significant increases in the vaccine supply for our communities and much-improved access to vaccination clinics across our borough, alongside greater levels of testing and self-isolation support.

“We know the importance of keeping to the basics after this last year in terms of hands, face, space and fresh air.

“In particular, we would like to remind everyone where possible to meet outside rather inside wherever you can and to minimise our travel to areas with really high rates.”