A report released by the Wakefield Health Protection Board commends the diligent efforts and unwavering commitment of all those engaged in addressing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Board reflects upon the robust collaborative efforts that were already in place, an indispensable factor that facilitated the implementation of numerous measures aimed at assisting the residents during this period.
In its inaugural report since the onset of the pandemic, the board underscores the enduring significance of this cooperative approach.
Wakefield Council and its partners are leveraging the lessons learned from the pandemic to effectively manage and respond to other health protection concerns.
Cllr Maureen Cummings Cabinet Member for Communities, Poverty & Health said: “A huge thank you to all staff at the Council and our partners who led the district through the pandemic.
“We are very proud of how we all worked together and all that was achieved. Together we supported people across our district during this unprecedented crisis.
“It’s also very encouraging to see how learning from Covid has been applied to tackling other health protection issues. This is also helping us to plan for the future.”
The Council’s environmental health team played a pivotal role in safeguarding the district’s health, a contribution that the report dedicates a section to. It encompasses their activities related to COVID-19 as well as other facets of their work, such as community safety, air quality, animal health, and food safety.
Cllr Jack Hemingway, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said: “During COVID-19 a lot of businesses were supported by our environmental health team. They provided advice at this hugely challenging time when we had ever-changing regulations. This helped to prevent the spread of the virus in our district.”
Furthermore, the report sheds light on the diverse teams that were engaged in the COVID-19 response, encompassing intelligence, communications, and community engagement. Several new teams were established to assist individuals, including incident management teams, COVID contact tracing, and outbreak management.
The report maintains a strong emphasis on how the Council and its partners tackled health protection issues post-COVID-19, encompassing matters such as MPox (formerly known as monkeypox), the 2022 heatwave, Avian flu, and Strep A.
Cabinet members are scheduled to discuss the report on Tuesday, 12th September. You can access the full report at https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/media/jmvpjxyw/wakefield-public-health-protection-report-2022-23.pdf.
