It was announced on the 27 May that Warwickshire County Council, alongside Coventry City Council, Solihull MBC and the West Midlands Combined Authority had been selected to take part in the early r...
It was announced on the 27 May that Warwickshire County Council, alongside Coventry City Council, Solihull MBC and the West Midlands Combined Authority had been selected to take part in the early roll out of the Government’s new £300 million scheme to identify and contain outbreaks and prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in our communities. This will work alongside the national NHS Test and Trace service.
Eleven areas have been selected to work with national leaders to rapidly develop and test outbreak control plans at a local level; identify common themes and share best practice; as well as innovating to develop faster approaches to testing and tracing. This will involve taking steps to control the spread of COVID-19 by identifying local outbreaks, contacting those potentially affected and containing and reducing the spread of the infection.
To achieve the best outcomes for Warwickshire communities, we will need residents to isolate immediately and book a test from NHS Test and Trace by calling 119 as soon as they experience symptoms. This includes a persistent cough or high temperature or a loss of/change in your sense of smell or taste. It is also essential for people to continue to follow national social distancing guidance, and to strictly adhere to self-isolation guidance when they or someone in their household has symptoms, or if they have been in contact with a confirmed case.
The NHS Test and Trace Service will ensure that anyone who develops symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) can quickly be tested to find out if they have the virus. It also helps to trace close recent contacts of anyone who tests positive for coronavirus and, if necessary, notifies them that they must self-isolate at home to help stop the spread of the virus.
If you test positive, you will be contacted by the NHS Test and Trace Service for the following information:
- Details on your symptoms and your family situation;
- Whether you need support when self-isolating; and
- The name and contact details of anyone outside the household that you have been in close contact with. This will be in the two days before your symptoms started, and whilst you have had symptoms.
This may seem like a lot of information, but it’s important to identify and contact anyone who could potentially be infected, to get them to self-isolate and help stop the spread of the virus.
Talking about the Test and Trace Service for Warwickshire, the Leader of Warwickshire County Council, Council Izzi Seccombe said:
“As one of the 11 beacon councils to lead this work, we have been working with our partners in Coventry City Council, Solihull MBC and the West Midlands Combined Authority to devise local outbreak plans. The plans establish how we will work with Public Health England West Midlands and the NHS Test and Trace service, as well as ensuring that our local systems are geared up to contain the virus should an outbreak occur. The plans also set out how vulnerable people will be supported when asked to self-isolate, as well as identifying how we will manage complex cases in particularly institutional settings, high-risk places, locations and communities. These settings include our care homes, schools and workplaces, but also there will be a key focus on some of our most vulnerable communities.
“A Covid1-9 Health Protection Board has been created between local partner agencies and this will lead the implementation of our outbreak plans and monitor the impact of our efforts. By leading on this next phase of the response, our residents are benefiting hugely from our combined approach to early identification, rapid testing, integrated tracing and a data targeted approach. This in turn will help us to reduce the spread of the virus and protect our residents against increased transmission. It is a huge step for the region.”
Leader of Coventry City Council, Councillor George Duggins said:
“Test and Trace is part of a much bigger programme of work, looking at how to prevent transmission, whilst other work is ongoing, looking at overall recovery and how we can tackle some of the wider issues that COVID-19 has had an impact upon, and which have a critical impact on health and well-being.
“We have already shown throughout this pandemic that we have been able to act quickly and deliver what is needed and we will once again work with all of our partners to make sure that this is also a success.
“We will help localise the national contract tracing work to ensure it is relevant for the city and we will work closely with our key stakeholders including schools, hospitals, GP surgeries, care homes, local businesses, charities and religious groups.”
Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council said:
“An effective test and trace regime is absolutely key to our economic recovery plans as well as underpinning any attempt for us to return to some measure of normality. The pandemic has knocked society completely off balance. It has affected all areas of our lives. Maintaining social distancing, taking the right steps to get tested if we get symptoms and self-isolating if we are advised to do so, will be key to getting on top of COVID-19 and returning to normal. Through this programme we also want to make sure that we monitor any signs that rates are increasing and take rapid steps to manage outbreaks where we find them.”
To find out more on the Test and Trace service, book a test or for information on when you need to self-isolate, please visit - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/nhs-test-and-trace-if-youve-been-in-contact-with-a-person-who-has-coronavirus/