A plan to supress future Covid-19 outbreaks in the Richmond area has been published this week.

All local authorities have been instructed by the government to devise Local Outbreak Management Plans (LOMP).

Richmond's Council director of public health Shannon Katiyo will lead the response control outbreaks of the virus, alongside the regional Public Health England health protection team and partners.

She said: "I want to reassure local residents that we are working hard to help prevent and control outbreaks of Covid-19 here in Richmond-upon-Thames.

"Protecting the health of the public is one of our key priorities and this new local outbreak management plan is the next phase of controlling the spread of coronavirus and encouraging people to get tested and cooperate with NHS Test and Trace.

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"The plan allows us to act fast as we receive local information and to manage and prevent the spread of outbreaks as lockdown measures are relaxed."

The council has been given £858,000 by the government to implement its outbreak management plan, which will focus on seven key themes.

1) Care homes and schools

2) Planning for prevention and management of outbreaks in other high-risk places, locations and communities

3) Ensuring local testing capacity

4) Leading contact tracing in complex settings

5) Integrating national and local data for scenario planning and responding fast to outbreaks

6) Supporting vulnerable local people to get help to self-isolate

7) Establishing local boards to oversee prevention and control of Covid-19.

Richmond Council said it will use the national test and trace services in the borough, including the regional testing centre at Twickenham Stadium and local mobile centres, to reduce the spread of the infection.

The local authority will use its own knowledge and that of partners and third sector groups to quickly identify and manage new outbreaks and identify vulnerable people who may need support.

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