Covid threat to stay 'for years’
Health chiefs will keep Covid plans in place ‘for years’ while working to tackle ‘unfairness’ in the North East as the region emerges from the pandemic.
FinalCovidrestrictionsliftedonApril1,withtheUKworking to an approach of learning to live with the disease.
ButastheGovernmentrecognises it could take years before the threat of dangerous new variants wains, health leaders in the North East say they will remain vigilant and keep careful plans in place.
Public health directors from the LA7 group of councils,comprisingofSunderland, SouthTyneside,Durham,Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead and Northumberland havenowreleasedastatement setting out the road ahead.
They are urging people to get vaccinated, take up the offer of booster jabs, and avoid contact with others if they show symptoms of Covid-19.
“Thanks to high vaccination coverage in the North East, which is protecting tens ofthousandsofpeoplefromsevere illness, hospitalisation or even death, we are in a very different place to when the pandemic began,” it reads.
“However, we appreciate that while the removal of restrictionsonApril1mighthave beenwelcomedbysome,itwill cause worry to others.
“As we adapt to living with Covid, we should follow simplepublichealthadvicetohelp keep ourselves and others as safe as possible, especially those most at risk.
"We stood together as one North East community throughout this pandemic, and we must all continue to do our bit.
"We have seen an increase incasesrecentlyandweshould notdropourguardandassume the virus has gone away.”
The health chiefs said standard public health advice forallsignificantandtransmissibleinfectionsistotrytoavoid contact with others.
The LA7 members said the Covid vaccine ‘will always be ourbestdefenceagainstthevirus’and‘everypersonwhogets vaccinated adds another layer of protection to our region’.
The statement added: “Measures we have become accustomed to – like wearing a face covering in crowded indoor spaces and health and social care settings, ventilating rooms, practising good respiratory hygiene, and washing hands thoroughly and regularly – will continue to be sensible and effective in protecting you not only from Covid but other illnesses as well.
“The Government recognises that it could take years before the threat of dangerous new variants subsides and we will need to maintain contingency plans and our readiness to respond. Together, we will continue to adapt to changes, as we have throughout the pandemic, whenever we need to.”
They added: “While there is no doubt about the direct impact of the virus on our region, we have at the same time been left with a legacy of new ways of working, strong partnerships, community spirit and new relationships across our communities.
“The pandemic has highlighted unfair differences in the experience of health and wellbeing across our communities. We don’t think this is good enough for our region, so we are focusing our efforts, during this next phase, to reduce these differences aiming to give everyone a fairer chance.
“Our region has a reputation for looking out for one another and we’re sure this will be no different as we move forward together.”