Work is under way in Liverpool to avoid another large-scale local outbreak of COVID-19.
Each local council across Cheshire and Merseyside has developed its own localized plan which takes into account factors including the number of confirmed cases, any impacted location or facility and the diversity and demographics of local populations.
In recent weeks Test, Trace, Contain and Engage groups (TTCE) have been set up in both Cheshire and Merseyside, working alongside local partners such as councils, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), Directors of Public Health and Primary Care as well as Hospital Trusts, NHSE/I, the police and military to ensure a consistent response.
The primary purpose of its work is to protect lives and protect livelihoods by avoiding local outbreaks such as the one in Leicester, preparing to take action should an outbreak occur, safely rebuilding local economies and protecting people’s health.
Liverpool is working with the cell to ensure testing capacity is, and can be, deployed effectively to high-risk locations.
As national restrictions begin to be lifted, the best way to minimize further spread of Covid-19 is through continued social distancing and hand-washing by local residents and responsible adherence to Government rules from local businesses.
However, as the knowledge and understanding of the virus continues to grow, it is likely that local decisions around how people’s lives can return to a more usual pattern, will need to be made.
It is possible, that through these measures, localised closures of schools, businesses or public spaces may need to happen alongside other restrictions around local movement and activity.
Anyone experiencing a new, continuous cough, a high temperature, or a loss of or change in their normal sense of smell or taste, should book a test immediately at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119 to find out if they currently have coronavirus.
You can read Liverpool’s outbreak control plan here.
