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"Councils are now looking after nearly 16,000 more children than they were 10 years ago."

“Councils continue to do all they can to keep their communities safe, while encouraging everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. These extra measures are a reminder that COVID-19 remains a serious public health threat, especially with the new Omicron variant and rising case numbers.

“As we look towards our recovery and the prospect of a return to a more normal way of life, we must not forget the memory of those who are no longer with us."

Responding to a National Audit Office interim report on the Government’s approach to test and trace in England, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:  “From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent launch of NHS Test and Trace, we have consistently called for councils and their directors of public health to be able to use their considerable expertise and unparalleled experience to play their full part in the national effort to beat this virus.  “Environmental health, emergency planners, trading standards and public

"Councils continue to lead local efforts to beat this disease but are facing increased cost and demand pressures at the same time as experiencing a significant drop in income."

"The swift decision is very helpful. Councils will now continue to put all of their efforts into supporting their local communities as the nation tackles COVID-19.”

"The launch of the NHS COVID-19 app will help residents, visitors and businesses, along with the councils which support them, to keep track of and isolate future outbreaks."

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board, responds to Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock’s speech today that Public Health England is to be replaced with the National Institute for Health Protection.

"Local health protection teams have reached 99.1 per cent of contacts who were asked to self-isolate, compared to 59 per cent of close contacts managed either online or by call centres."

“It remains extremely worrying that with infection rates and deaths from coronavirus continuing to increase during this lockdown, the test and trace system is still only picking up six out of every ten contacts of people who tested positive."