Stuart Keeble from Suffolk on Covid Enhanced Response Zone

Posted:
6:00 p.m. October 31, 2021

The Suffolk public health chief has warned that “we have a new challenge now” after the county received additional support from the government to tackle high rates of Covid.

From Monday, Suffolk becomes a Improved response area (ERA) – meaning teams of specialists will be deployed to help support work around vaccinations, communications and outbreak management.

Other measures to be introduced include fast-track decisions for the government, strengthened measures in schools, national teams supporting local epidemic control teams with state-of-the-art testing and additional volunteers being recruited.

The UK Health Safety Agency’s decision to make Suffolk an ERA came in request from the local commitment committee in the event of an epidemic.

Stuart Keeble, Suffolk’s director of public health, welcomed the move in hopes it would protect the NHS this winter.

He said: ‘Every day since the start of the pandemic, we have been closely monitoring the impact of Covid-19 in Suffolk and taking action to protect people and save lives.

“This work hasn’t stopped, even as infection rates slowed over the summer.

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“We have a new challenge now – high infection rates and continued hospitalizations at exactly the same time the NHS is trying to catch up on treatment for millions of people.

“That is why, after evaluating all the data and options available to us, we made this offer for further assistance from the central government.

“We want to move forward and stop Covid before our NHS reaches the point of no return.”

Matthew Hicks, chairman of the Local Outbreaks Advocacy Committee and Head of Suffolk County Council, added: “I very much welcome this additional help and funding from the government. This will support our already massive efforts to get more people vaccinated and slow the spread. of Covid-19 in Suffolk.

Matthew Hicks, chairman of the local epidemic advocacy committee and head of Suffolk County Council
– Credit: Gregg Brown

“Throughout the pandemic, Suffolk has been successful in keeping our Covid rates low compared to other parts of the country. It’s because we’ve worked hard and been proactive every step of the way.

“The situation facing Suffolk now calls for the same forward-thinking and preventative work to protect residents, businesses and our way of life.

“As we learn to live with Covid-19, it will be actions like this that prevent Covid from having an even worse impact and, ultimately, hold back our recovery.”