Norfolk County Councillor Vic Thomson sent the following message
Please find below information relating to the latest Government announcement concerning the Covid-19 outbreak in Attleborough
Reaction to Government offering enhanced support
Norfolk County Council leader, Councillor Andrew Proctor, said: “We welcome the Secretary of State’s decision to make Norfolk an area of enhanced support, following the coronavirus outbreak at Banham Poultry.
“This is all about support, not restrictions. There will not be extra rules affecting how any of us live and work in Norfolk. This is purely about the Government providing swifter data and testing and giving us the support, we need.
“I would reassure the community and our visitors that Norfolk is still a safe place in which to live, work and visit.”
Director of public health, Dr Louise Smith, said: “All the evidence so far suggests that we have contained the Banham Poultry outbreak.
“Although cases have risen in Great Yarmouth, Breckland and Norwich, we have always been clear this would happen, as Banham cases fed through into the figures. They are all linked to workers and their households.
“We can now draw on additional Government support, to obtain swifter data and testing, to support our local efforts.
“Thank you to everyone in Norfolk who has been following advice on hand washing and social distancing, which has ensured that we do not have a serious, wider problem across our communities.
“If you are contacted by test and trace, please isolate for the stated period and get tested as soon as possible if you have symptoms. You will be playing a crucial part in keeping coronavirus under control.”
Responses to key questions:
Is this a recognition that there are problems with test and trace in Norfolk?
No – This is about giving us a better link with national resources and services.
We are pleased the Government recognises that we need data and support more quickly, to fully support our local efforts to contain this outbreak. All the evidence so far is that we have contained it. They have already been giving us more support with mobile testing than other areas have received.
What does the enhanced support entail?
We will be given priority for any additional testing capacity:
o Continued priority for mobile testing units as required
o Ringfencing of NHS Test and Trace call centre tracing resources
o Priority for test results and data sharing
o Enhanced backward contact tracing
o Senior/experienced public health input
What is the current coronavirus infection rate in Norfolk and also in the districts of Breckland, Great Yarmouth and Norfolk, where most of the Banham Poultry staff live?
Rate per 100,000: Norwich 13.9, Great Yarmouth 35.2, Breckland 32.3, Norfolk 8.85, East of England 10.2, England 13.5.
What is the current number for positive tests of Banham staff and households? 119 positive cases out of 1,784 tested.
Background:
- All staff at the plant, plus their households, have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days if they have not tested positive and for 10 days if they have tested positive – households of those who have tested positive need to isolate for 14 days
- Additional mobile testing units have been brought into Norfolk, to offer testing to anyone connected to the Banham Poultry site
- As announced last Friday, staff who are self-isolating are being offered support, if they need it, from the Norfolk Assistance Scheme – including food and medical supplies and hardship fund payments. The number is 01603 223392
- Contact tracing is taking place to alert anyone who has been linked to Banham Poultry workers who have tested positive for Covid-19
- The process for euthanising the chickens is subject to the usual strict regulatory controls
- Anyone in Norfolk who is experiencing Covid-19 symptoms should book an NHS test via the GOV.UK website
- The county council has written to every household in Norfolk, urging them to get tested if they have symptoms and its public health information campaign will continue
Surlingham 
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