‘MAJOR INCIDENT’ DOWNGRADED – BUT CORONAVIRUS THREAT REMAINS

THE ‘major incident’ declared in Stoke-on-trent and Staffordshire four months ago in response to the Covid-19 crisis has been stood down.

Local councils, NHS organisations and the emergency services agreed to the downgrade – which will allow some staff to return to their ‘day job’ – due to falling infection and mortality rates in the area.

But they insist this does not mean the threat from coronavirus is over. The NHS nationally and locally remains in a major incident.

Families in Stoke-on-trent and Staffordshire are still being told to comply with national rules relating to social distancing and the wearing of face coverings, and to support the test and trace scheme. The major incident, which was declared by Staffordshire Resilience Forum on March 25, allowed partner organisations to work closely together in response to the outbreak. The SRF consists of the bluelight emergency services, all local NHS organisations, 10 local authorities and local representatives from a number of national agencies. Dr Richard Harling, the director for health and care at Staffordshire County Council, chairs the Strategic Co-ordinating Group, which oversees the multiagency response.

He said: “This does not mean anyone can afford to let their guard down. Covid-19 is still a real danger that we all must take action against. However, the situation in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-trent is currently stable.

“Declaring a major incident in March was a way of making sure all public sector agencies and our partners could work together, share resources, and better anticipate and deal with challenges.

“With the current situation, we are now able to release some people who were seconded from their principal duties back to their day jobs as we move towards restoration and recovery.

“As a multi-agency partnership, we will continue to work extremely closely and the Strategic Co-ordinating Group that has led the local response will continue to meet on a regular basis.

“We would also like to thank our workforce, who have reacted magnificently to the pandemic response and being redeployed to tasks ranging from the delivery of PPE to setting up testing centres. While cross agency redeployment will be stood-down, some staff will continue to be redeployed within their own organisations.”

The major incident could be reactivated if local infection rates rise again, and if necessary, there could be a local lockdown, similar to the one imposed in Leicester.

Gareth Morgan, left, Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police and chairman of Staffordshire Resilience Forum, said: “Community outbreaks are still a real threat – either on a very localised scale like that recently seen on a farm in Herefordshire, or on a much larger scale, such as witnessed in Leicester.

“If the need arises, we can trigger re-activation of the major incident at any time. We still face many challenges, especially as we approach winter and the period when seasonal flu begins to increase as a risk.

“I would like to thank all the partner agencies for their united work in responding to the crisis and their ongoing commitment and focus. I would also like to thank the public for their support.”