Cambridgeshire becomes 'Enhanced Response Area' following rising Covid cases
Additional support from the Government will be available for at least five weeks.
Cambridgeshire has been made an 'Enhanced Response Area' following a plea from health bosses for national support following a rise in Covid cases in the county.
The move means that additional support will be available from Government for at least the next five weeks, including resources for increased testing and awareness campaigns.
Health bosses applied for the support and say they welcome the agreement from Government which is vital to protect the NHS and local services.
Infection rates locally are currently higher than the January peak.
The status allows leaders to push for additional support to:
Accelerate and target 12-15 vaccination rollout to key areas and schools where infections are highest.
Accelerate booster vaccinations for eligible groups who have had their second dose more than six months ago
Increase vaccination rate in areas with lowest take up
Bosses will continue discussions with the Department for Education about additional measures it can use in schools, but in the meantime it will continue to:
Encourage secondary school teachers or pupils who are household contacts of positive cases to take daily LFT tests
Continue with advice given to schools before half term that face coverings should be worn in secondary schools communal areas and that meetings happen virtually where possible
Residents in Cambridgeshire are also encouraged to:
Wear face coverings in crowded and enclosed areas where you come into contact with people you do not usually meet
Get vaccinations, test regularly and particularly before attending events, meet with others outside their household in well ventilated spaces, and wash hands regularly and well
Jyoti Atri, Director of Public Health for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough said: “A rising rate of infections particularly in our older population meant I had to make this application now.
“This increase starting to build in our 60+ age groups, coupled with low vaccination rates in some parts of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough – means pressure is building on our local health services. This is exacerbated by increased levels of Covid infections in the general population, and staff being unable to work because they are infected or isolating. If unchecked, this will also impact on health care for other non Covid needs.
“If we all do more now - together we can reduce pressure before worst effects of winter really begin.”
Cllr Richard Howitt, Chair of the Council’s Adults and Health Committee said: “We are taking leadership locally now to protect lives and the health of local people, acting quickly in response to the expert advice given by our Public Health officials and recognising the seriousness that local trends have highlighted.
“I fully support the steps our Director of Public Health has taken and our County Council will do everything both to push for the resources to which this new status entitles us and to do everything to help implement new measures in response."
Cllr Howitt added: “Our vital public services – not just the health services, but the education of children in our schools - is starting to be severely affected by the rising rates of infection, with children missing their lessons or schools needing to close classes or even whole year groups because there aren’t a safe level of adults present due to isolation.
“The Enhanced status will further enable measures across the whole population that we know can work to slow down infection rates and were working earlier in the year. I hope this will be a wake-up call to anyone locally who believes the pandemic is over, and urge people to take notice of what is being recommended very seriously indeed.”
Additional support does not mean additional restrictions on people's movements or actions.
It is not a lockdown or like the tiering system that was trialled in England in 2020.
The aim is to boost the county's ability to raise awareness, tackle outbreaks, and encourage people to get vaccinated.