outbreak -covid testing sign in Nantwich - pic by Bill Pearson

Cheshire East Council has published its plans on how it would handle local outbreaks of Covid-19 virus.

The plan is part of the Government’s national Covid-19 test, trace, contain and enable recovery strategy.

It aims to be an effective and coordinated approach to prevent, detect and manage any coronavirus outbreaks within Cheshire East.

The plan will protect all residents, including the most vulnerable, and sets out how the council will work together with local care homes, schools, healthcare settings, local businesses and others most at risk.

An outbreak is defined as two or more cases, who may have tested positive for Covid-19 within the same 14-day period, in people who either work together or have visited a place together.

As national restrictions are relaxed, Cheshire East residents are urged to continue supporting controls to help protect families, friends and neighbours from the risk of a local outbreak.

It comes as a new lockdown was imposed on Leicester after it saw a sharp increase in cases in the past two weeks.

Cheshire East Council’s Covid-19 outbreak plan says it will:

● Work to prevent Covid-19 transmission in community settings
● Identify and notify a local outbreak
● Manage a local outbreak
● Declare the end of a local outbreak
● Support vulnerable residents who have tested positive and are self-isolating

Matt Tyrer
Matt Tyrer

Dr Matt Tyrer, Cheshire East’s director of public health, said: “Covid-19 transmission and outbreaks can be prevented through good hygiene practice such as regular hand washing, where this isn’t possible using hand sanitiser and adhering to social distancing measures.

“This prevention advice remains the most effective and important course of action to take in preventing a local outbreak in Cheshire East.”

Cllr Sam Corcoran, leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “The virus is still out there, however, and we need to remain vigilant and take precautions.

“Each and every resident has a part to play in helping prevent a local outbreak by supporting our plans and following the test and trace protocol, to protect themselves, their family and friends.

“It’s through supporting each other and your local council that we will continue to win this fight against the coronavirus, to make sure we don’t have to put this outbreak plan into place.”

“Contact tracing and subsequent testing will activate an outbreak notification process and our outbreak management plan will be put into action.”

View a summary of the Cheshire East Council plan here.

Protect yourself and your family and friends by getting a coronavirus test if you have symptoms of a persistent cough, fever or loss of taste and smell by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus

Protect your community by self-isolating for 14 days if you have symptoms or if alerted to do so by a contact tracer.

(Image courtesy of Bill Pearson)

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