The attached documentation sets out the proposals to utilise Tier 3 (Very High) funding to build upon progress to date and further enhance local capacity to deliver interventions to break the chains of COVID-19 transmission.

In June 2020 Wirral Council was allocated £2,733,018 of grant funding via the Test and Trace Support Service Grant. The purpose of the grant was to provide support to local authorities in England towards expenditure lawfully incurred or to be incurred in relation to the mitigation against and management of local outbreaks of COVID-19.

Test and Trace funding received in July has been utilised to implement the Wirral COVID-19 Outbreak prevention and Control Plan to:

1. Develop the Wirral COVID-19 Hub: The purpose of the COVID-19 Hub is to prevent, control and manage COVID-19 outbreaks in Wirral.
2. ncrease communication and community engagement activity
3. Increase capacity of specialist staff (intelligence, infection prevention control, environmental health)
4. Contribute towards the development of the Cheshire and Merseyside (C&M) COVID-19 hub – to manage complex cases on behalf of all C&M authorities

In October 2020 additional grant funding of £2,701,000 for Test and Trace activity was received by the Wirral Council when the Liverpool City Region was placed under the Tier 3 ‘very high’ COVID-19 alert level restrictions.

Tier 3 funding will allow development the Wirral COVID-19 hub further and develop capacity to focus upon the development of a local Find, Test, Trace, Isolate, and Support model to the transmission of COVID-19 across the borough.

RESOLVED - that the proposal to utilise Tier 3 (Very High) funding to build upon progress to date and further enhance local capacity to deliver interventions to break the chains of COVID-19 transmission be approved.

This decision is in line with the existing Wirral Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan to ensure continued reduced transmission and minimise the impact of COVID-19 on Wirral residents, communities and businesses.

The refreshed plan highlights the progress made to date and outlines the next steps in the continuing local response to the pandemic. The Tier 3 funding will be utilised to support the delivery of the refreshed Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan.