Public at risk from virus for another year
PEOPLE ARE likely to be at risk of contracting COVID-19 during the ongoing pandemic for at least another year, councillors heard.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet approved an Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan to help the borough deal with outbreaks of coronavirus that might occur within it in the months ahead.
The document, signed off by Calderdale’s Director of Public Health Deborah Harkins, was sent to the Government last week along with plans from other local authorities in England.
It outlines seven themes which aim to protect people as much as possible and minimise the impact of outbreaks where possible.
Leader of the Council, Coun Tim Swift said the council’s own experiences and those of other authorities had informed the planning.
“It is very likely that we will remain at risk from the coronavirus for at least the next 12 months.
“As some of the lockdown measures are eased we need to do everything we can to reduce infection and keep people as safe as we can. “That means keeping levels low in Calderdale and so far we have been relatively low.
“To be able to do that we need to spot trends of infection early, so we can take action early and reduce the spread,” he said.
As of June 28, the infection rate in Calderdale was around 300 for every 100,000 of people, said Coun Swift, with Calderdale in the lowest 20 per cent of affected local authorities nationally.
Coun Geraldine Carter (Con,
Ryburn) asked if there could be cross-party representation on the outbreak control board, which Cabinet also agreed to set up, along similar lines as the Health and Wellbeing Board.
Coun Swift (Lab, Town) said he would consider the request but not make a decision yet – however the new board should report to Health and Wellbeing and other council scrutiny boards on a regular basis.
We need to spot trends of infection early so we can take action early and reduce the spread
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