The plan, developed by the City of Wolverhampton Council, Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group and the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, aims to reduce the spread of Covid-19, save lives and help people return to normal life in a way that is safe, protects the health and social care system and supports the economy to recover.
John Denley, Wolverhampton’s Director of Public Health, said: “Covid-19 has impacted on the lives of everyone in our city.
“The collective effort, expertise and commitment of partners from across the system has helped to limit the impact of the virus on Wolverhampton so far and, together, we have worked tirelessly to ensure that our health and care system can continue to manage the unprecedented demands that the pandemic has placed upon us.
“We have also made sure that our most vulnerable residents are supported to stay safe within their local community. But there is still a lot to do. As services and businesses across the city are supported to gradually re-open safely, it is vital that we can detect and respond to any possible spread of Covid-19.
"In the meantime, we all continue to have a role to play in preventing the spread of this virus, and that’s why it’s crucial that everyone follows the Government's social distancing measures and stays at home unless absolutely necessary.”
The Wolverhampton Covid-19 Outbreak Control Plan provides a framework for the response to incidents and outbreaks that occur in the city. It has been developed along several themes, including planning for possible outbreaks in care homes and schools, managing high risk locations, ensuring successful contact tracing in complex settings, developing local capacity to ensure tests are available to anyone who needs one, and helping vulnerable people who need to self-isolate.
It will work in tandem with the national NHS Test and Trace system which tracks down close contacts of anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 and instructs them to isolate for 14 days to prevent the spread of the virus.
David Loughton, Chief Executive of The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, said: “As lockdown measures are eased, and we move into the next phase of living with Covid-19, our overriding priority remains to save lives.
“Our well-established, locally-led multiagency system is critical to achieving this but we all must play our part.
“Preventing the spread of Covid-19 is everyone’s responsibility and we must remain alert. We are continuing to refine our approach as we learn more about how this new disease is moving across the city, the country and across the world.”
Dr Salma Reehana, Chair of Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Our COVID-19 Outbreak Control Plan builds on the good practice we have delivered so far and sets out how we will continue to work together, what our priorities are, and how we will measure our progress in tackling the spread of infection and controlling outbreaks.
“Our ultimate aim is to control the virus and enable people in our city to live a safer and more normal life.”
The Wolverhampton Covid-19 Outbreak Control Plan can be found on the council's dedicated Covid-19 information pages, at COVID-19 Outbreak Control Plan.
Residents are reminded they must continue to follow social distancing guidelines to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. Everyone must:
- stay at home as much as possible
- work from home if you can
- limit contact with other people
- keep your distance if you go out, at least 2m or 1m-plus if 2m is not possible
- wash your hands regularly
Anyone, irrespective of age, should be tested if they have symptoms of Covid-19, including a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. For more information, and to apply for a test, please go to GOV.UK. If you do not have access to the internet, please call 119. All appointments must be booked in advance.
Anyone in Wolverhampton who tests positive for Covid-19 will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and will need to isolate and share information about people that have been close contacts recently.
The latest information and guidance around coronavirus is available at GOV.UK and on the council’s own coronavirus pages at Coronavirus advice and information. There’s lots of advice on how people can protect themselves and their families from coronavirus from the NHS at Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The council’s Stay Safe, Be Kind campaign offers clear and simple advice about how people can help themselves, and how they can support others who may be particularly vulnerable at this time. For more information, please visit Stay Safe, Be Kind.
