The UK has been responding to coronavirus (COVID-19) since the end of January 2020. Coronavirus was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on 11 March 2020. The next day, on 12 March, the UK government moved to the ‘delay’ phase of its response. Greater Manchester declared a major incident on 20 March.
We know that throughout this pandemic some communities are feeling the impact of coronavirus more than others. Coronavirus has exposed existing disparities and exacerbated historical inequalities – including the vulnerabilities of older people and care home residents, of BAME staff, volunteers and communities, and the impact on families, young people and children, and on livelihoods. But coronavirus has also brought local services even closer together as a whole system. Through the Spirit of Salford, partners have come together very quickly in ways we wouldn't have thought possible.
Working together with other areas in Greater Manchester, our local systems were better prepared in managing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) meaning our frontline staff and volunteers were and continue to be protected. We introduced individual risk assessments for frontline workers – not just at the setting or service level but also for those with different job roles, ethnicity and health conditions. We’re now rolling out health checks to care homes and home care staff.
As we move to the next stage of managing the virus, local responses are a vital part of an integrated national and regional approach. As we ease out of national lockdown and businesses begin to reopen, it is more important than ever that we have the capacity, capability, systems and processes in place to prevent and respond locally to any potential outbreaks of the virus. A national framework of test, trace, contain and enable (TTCE) has been developed – and to be effective it relies on an effective and timely local response.
TTCE is a real building block for us being able to keep the virus visible and to stop forward transmission. The sooner we identify a case who tests positive, the sooner we can trace their contacts and advise self-isolation. This then rapidly protects others from being exposed to the virus. The NHS Test and Trace system is being rolled out nationally, with shared arrangements across Greater Manchester; for example, to trace contacts who may live, work and travel from different local authority areas.
A local response in Salford has been in place since the very early stages of the pandemic. We set up local testing from mid-April as a partnership across the NHS, the council and with the voluntary sector. The ability to test locally is invaluable for a rapid response to a suspected case – someone who is unwell in a school, a care home, or a keyworker’s household – and we can get the result very quickly.
In early June, the government asked all upper tier local authorities to put in place a COVID-19 outbreak management plan, explaining how we will manage the spread of the virus, to minimise its prevalence and the impact of coronavirus within our communities. This plan is Salford’s response - it sets out: the arrangements in place to prevent, control and reduce transmission of the virus; to protect the vulnerable; to prevent increased demand on health care services; and to address health protection, infection control and environmental health associated impacts which will support the city’s social and economic recovery.
Salford’s COVID-19 outbreak management plan sits alongside the Salford emergency response and recovery plan and provides additional clarity on the specific additional measures in place given the unprecedented scope and health, social and economic impacts of coronavirus. Strong collaboration and partnership working sits at the heart of our plan, including collaboration with other local authorities and health partners across Greater Manchester – our local Salford plan sits within a framework alongside the GM COVID-19 outbreak management plan, the GM multi-agency outbreak plan, and the GM multi-agency generic response plan – together these set out how GM will support localities in delivering their health protection responsibilities.
Delivery of this plan is led by the Director of Public Health. We are confident in the arrangements set out in this plan. It does not though set out to address all the possible associated impacts and consequences as a result of health protection measures. Nor does it – or can it – set out all the possible responses that may need to be considered. In extreme cases (such as consideration of, or a return to, previous lockdown arrangements) this will require further deliberation locally, regionally and potentially nationally.
We are committed to effectively and proactively managing the spread of the virus, to minimise its prevalence and the impact of coronavirus within our communities. This plan is Salford’s response – it is a whole council, whole system response. Together with people across the city we will do all we can to prevent, control and reduce transmission of the virus; to protect the vulnerable; to prevent increased demand on health care services; and to address health protection, infection control and environmental health associated impacts which will support the city’s social and economic recovery.
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