Councils are warning of virus battle cash fears

Council bosses are calling for more cash to help them tackle the rising number of Omicron variant Covid-19 cases.

The Local Government Association (LGA) – which represents councils across England – says an extension to the Government’s Covid-19 outbreak funding is needed to meet a surge in demand for local contact tracing.

The Government’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF), which has provided much-needed funding to local authorities to help them reduce the spread of coronavirus and support local public health, is set to end in March.

The LGA said this has resulted in some staff with vital expertise moving on to other roles and, without guarantees over the future of this funding, councilsmaystruggletorapidlystand-uplocally-driventesting and contact tracing and be able to respond swiftly to any future localised outbreaks.

CllrDavidFothergill,chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Councils continue to do all they can to support communities and prepare for what could be the nextphaseinthebattleagainst this virus.

“Using their local knowledge and contacts, councils have complemented the national test and trace system by successfully finding many hard-to-reachcases,whilealso helping to encourage as many people as possible to get vaccinated.

“With extra funding for councils to contain and manage outbreaks running out, there is growing concern that key staff in tracing roles are leaving or will leave, just as cases are rising.

"Only with the necessary powers and resources, can councils continue to lead local efforts to tackle outbreaks swiftly and effectively.”