Cheshire East Council launches plan to manage potential local outbreaks of Covid-19

Cheshire East Council has published a document that outlines the plans it has made should there be a local outbreak of Covid-19. 

This plan, part of the government’s national Covid-19 test, trace, contain and enable recovery strategy, will ensure that an effective and coordinated approach is in place for the prevention, rapid detection and management of any coronavirus outbreaks within Cheshire East.

This plan will protect all residents, including the most vulnerable and sets out how the council will work together with local care homes, schools, healthcare settings, local businesses and others most at risk.

It is understood that the UK has passed the peak of transmission and case numbers have been decreasing overall. However, this is not a time to be complacent.

As national restrictions are relaxed it is even more important that Cheshire East residents support controls to help protect their families, friends and neighbours from the risk of a local outbreak – and everyone has a role to play. This is reflected in the situation in Leicester, which is subject to a local lockdown due to a local increase in cases.

Cheshire East Council’s Covid-19 outbreak prevention, management and support plan explains how the council will:

● Work to prevent Covid-19 transmission in community settings;

● Identify and notify a local outbreak;

● Manage a local outbreak;

● Declare the end of a local outbreak; and

● Support vulnerable residents who have tested positive and are self-isolating

Councillor Sam Corcoran, leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “The UK is experiencing a pandemic that has shaken the country and sadly, at time of writing, resulted in more than 43,000 people losing their lives from Covid-19.  

“However, case numbers are decreasing and national restrictions have been relaxed as we saw the reopening of pubs and restaurants this weekend and our play areas and libraries reopened locally today. The virus is still out there, however, and we need to remain vigilant and take precautions.

“Each and every resident has a part to play in helping prevent a local outbreak by supporting our plans and following the test and trace protocol, to protect themselves, their family and friends. It’s through supporting each other and your local council that we will continue to win this fight against the coronavirus, to make sure we don’t have to put this outbreak plan into place.”

Dr Matt Tyrer, Cheshire East’s director of public health, said: “Covid-19 transmission and outbreaks can be prevented through good hygiene practice such as regular hand washing, where this isn’t possible using hand sanitiser and adhering to social distancing measures. This prevention advice remains the most effective and important course of action to take in preventing a local outbreak in Cheshire East.”

An outbreak is defined as two or more cases, who may have tested positive for Covid-19 within the same 14-day period, in people who either work together or have visited a place together. Contact tracing and subsequent testing will activate an outbreak notification process and our outbreak management plan will be put into action.”

A summary of Cheshire East Council’s plan is available on their website  https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_information/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19.aspx

Protect yourself and your family and friends by getting a coronavirus test if you have symptoms of a persistent cough, fever or loss of taste and smell by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus. Protect your community by then self-isolating for 14 days if you have symptoms or if alerted to do so by a contact tracer.