As lockdown restrictions ease and we start to see local communities and businesses ramp up their activity, we are putting in place a plan to protect all our residents from further outbreaks of COVID-19.

Earlier this month we published our COVID-19 Local Outbreak Management Plan (southglos.gov.uk/LOMP), which is designed to prevent and deal with any outbreaks of coronavirus in places such as care homes, schools and nurseries, communities and workplaces.

The document provides a clear overview on how we will support national and regional efforts to keep the virus under control, including our support for the NHS test, trace and isolate programme. Working with the NHS, partners and stakeholders we will ensure that we have the necessary capacity and capability to provide a fully co-ordinated approach to prevent, contain and manage local outbreaks of COVID-19 in South Gloucestershire.

The management plan is a mechanism for us to anticipate and do as much as we can to prevent outbreaks in local areas. Our approach will be adapted and refined as we learn more about the virus.

To support our plan, the Council has been allocated £863,000 by the Department of Health and Social Care from a £300m government fund to put into action national and regional efforts to keep the virus under control.

Safety remains our top priority. We are working hard to put the Plan in place but every resident in South Gloucestershire has a role to play in helping our local businesses and community get back to normal.

We are still at a critical point in the pandemic and even though numbers of cases are thankfully reducing, everyone needs to continue to adhere to government restrictions; maintain social distancing, practise good hand hygiene, and, if you have symptoms, self-isolate and get tested.

For more information visit southglos.gov.uk/coronavirus or call our Freephone helpline number 0800 953 7778.