That the Torbay Covid-19 Local Outbreak Management Plan be approved.

Local Authorities have a significant role to play in the identification and management of COVID-19 outbreaks.  Directors of Public Health have a leadership role in ensuring there are plans in place with the necessary capacity and capability to deploy resources in a timely way to respond to COVID-19 outbreaks and help prevent spread.  All upper tier Local Authorities are required to produce a Local Outbreak Management Plan by the end of June 2020.

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This decision will be implemented immediately.

The aim of the Local Outbreak Management Plan is to define how local government will work with the new NHS Test and Trace Service to ensure a whole system approach to preventing and managing COVID-19 outbreaks.  Responding to local outbreaks must be a co-ordinated effort across Public Health England local health protection teams, the NHS, Social Care, Education, Police, the private sector, employers and the community and voluntary sector.  Members of the general public also have a vital role to play in reducing spread of the virus and preventing outbreaks, both in terms of following national guidance and social distancing guidelines, following good hand and respiratory hygiene practices, arranging testing and self-isolating as required. 

Local Outbreak Management Plans should cover the following areas:

·      Tracking the course of the local epidemic: oversight, strategic leadership, liaison with local politicians and public, support to PHE for outbreak identification and case finding, assurance that robust systems are in place to protect the local population.

·      Proactive epidemic response measures: oversight of Test and Trace, close liaison with PHE, access to analytical support, support to PHE in the management of complex settings and mobilising access to testing, assessment of community impact, identification of vulnerable populations, proactive advice and guidance to settings, collaboration on the management of any enforcement measures. 

·      Communications and local engagement:  briefing elected members, communications with local population to ensure they understand the need for contact tracing and isolation and how it works, community and liaison with local stakeholders, links to LRF and LHRP, collaboration on media work.  

Our Local plan addresses seven key themes and outlines arrangements for joint response across Torbay to:

1.            Prevent and respond to outbreaks in Care Homes and Schools.

2.            Prevent and respond to outbreaks in High risk places and communities.

3.            Support vulnerable people that are isolating.

4.            Enable local testing capability.

5.            Support PHE Contact tracing in complex situations.

6.            Use data to inform situational awareness.

7.            Ensure oversight and Engagement.

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