Care home bosses in Gloucestershire will be advised to suspend visitors as part of a new, local six-step plan to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, writes Leigh Boobyer.

The action plan was launched yesterday (October 19) by Gloucestershire County Council as Covid-19 cases continue to rise in the county.

The authority said its director of public health, Sarah Scott, will write to all care homes advising them to suspend visiting.

It said: “We will work with care homes to make sure there are other, safe ways, for residents and their loved ones stay in touch, with exceptions for those who sadly have to say goodbye.”

Also included in the plan is the deployment of a compliance officer for each district to help residents understand and follow the guidance.

Gloucestershire was handed £300,000 of a £2.2million Government grant to fund the new officers earlier this month.

The county council said the new plan will support the Government’s new three-tier system which was announced last week.

All of Gloucestershire’s districts – Cheltenham, Stroud, Forest of Dean, Cotswold, Gloucester and Tewkesbury – are currently placed in Tier One which includes various restrictions.

According to the latest Government data released yesterday (October 19), a total of 43 coronavirus positive test results have been recorded across the county.

Residents who needed to shield from the virus earlier this year will also be asked by the authority to reduce their social contact.

The six steps are:

Increased enforcement

Welfare checks

Suspend care home visits

Covid-19 Gloucestershire Protection Representatives (nationally referred to as Covid-19 Marshals).

Letter to those in shielding group to remind and reassure

Do it yourselves. Do it for each other.

Sarah Scott, director of public health at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “We recognise that some of these steps will be difficult for our community, especially where it affects people being able to be with loved ones, but they are crucial to minimise the risk of Covid-19 in our community.

“It is especially important as we head into the Winter months, where demand for health and social care services is at its highest.

“We know everyone has already been working hard to keep to the guidance, but it is more important that ever that we don’t give up.”

Council leader Mark Hawthorne (C, Quedgeley) said:  “I want to thank our residents, businesses and partners for everything they are already doing to prevent the spread of Covid cases in the county– but we must keep this up.

“Whilst, thankfully, cases of Covid  remain lower than many other parts of the country – they are rising.

“Further action is necessary now, to prevent the need for restrictions which we can’t control.

“Let’s do it for each other – let’s slow the spread of Covid-19.”