The LGA's media office provides the national voice of local government in England and Wales on the major issues of the day for national, regional and local press.
The Government’s “Clipper” system intends to provide a central hub for the supply and distribution of PPE. However, it is yet to be fully up and running following a delay in going live and could take at least another three weeks before it gets up to speed.
Social care workers and other council service staff continue to risk their lives in keeping essential services going, including supporting our elderly and most vulnerable people, due to a chronic lack of masks, gowns, visors, goggles and other life-saving kit.
The LGA suggests that councils and local areas could each need access to
“Any national plans by government to track and trace coronavirus needs to be complemented by making use of existing local knowledge and skills on the ground."
“Now more than ever, people working in social care are playing a vital and valuable role in society and this campaign is another important boost to this in-demand profession. "
"Data on all deaths from COVID-19 needs to be published promptly and accurately, so we can have full confidence and transparency in these figures as part of our plan to defeat this deadly virus."
"It is vital that even more of this vital protective equipment is available to those who need it, including our valuable social care staff and others providing essential local services."
Retired care workers being asked to return to work could help support those most at risk of the coronavirus outbreak and provide a much-needed boost to an already over-stretched social care workforce, say council leaders.