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Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, responds to details about COVID-19 alert levels announced by the Prime Minister.

“Rising coronavirus cases across the country mean that we all now, more than ever, have a responsibility to get ourselves tested when needed and for sharing our contacts on request.

“If we are to prevent this second wave from escalating further, we need the system to meet the recommended 80 per cent benchmark if it is to have any chance of success."

"This needs to be supported by adequate resources for councils to make sure tests are undertaken and for swift follow-up action following any positive cases."

With mental health inequality in the spotlight, we respond to this recent report and the essential role councils play in improving their residents’ mental health and wellbeing.

"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."

The LGA said the Government and NHS must utilise the knowledge and experience of directors of public health when it comes to distributing a potential COVID-19 vaccine.

Responding to the Centre for Ageing Better’s ‘State of Ageing in 2020’ report, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “This latest report is another important warning that the impact of coronavirus could have far reaching consequences for everyone, from all ages and backgrounds. “Councils play a crucial role in improving and maintaining their residents’ health and wellbeing, including for older people. During this incredibly difficult period, councils want to continue doing all they can to ensure our older people have access to the

“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."

“It is critical that that the Government uses the Spending Review to provide significant investment so councils can continue to support their employees as much as possible and recruit and retain the staff needed to provide the local services that are delivered every day by our hard-working staff, alongside care workers and NHS colleagues.”