£300m Funding to Support New Test and Trace Service

• Local Authorities to work with Government to support Test and Trace Services in their local communities

• £300 million will be provided to all Local Authorities in England to develop and action their plans to reduce the spread of the virus in their area

• Work will build on the continued efforts of communities across the country to respond to the pandemic locally

Local Authorities will be central to supporting the new Test and Trace Service across England, with the Government providing a new funding package of £300 million.

Each local authority will be given funding to develop tailored outbreak control plans, working with local NHS and other stakeholders.

Work on the plans will start immediately. Their plans will focus on identifying and containing potential outbreaks in places such as workplaces, housing complexes, care homes and schools.

As part of this work, Local Authorities will also need to ensure testing capacity is deployed effectively to high-risk locations. Local Authorities will work closely with the Test and Trace service, local NHS and other partners to achieve this.

Data on the virus’ spread will be shared with Local Authorities through the Joint Biosecurity Centre to inform local outbreak planning, so teams understand how the virus is moving, working with national Government where necessary to access the testing and tracing capabilities of the new service.

Local communities, organisations and individuals will also be encouraged to follow Government guidance and assist those self-isolating in their area who need help. This will include encouraging neighbours to offer support and identifying and working with relevant community groups.

These new plans will build on the comprehensive work already being done by Local Authorities and Directors of Public health to respond to coronavirus locally.

Local efforts will support the national rollout of the Test and Trace Service, in which everyone will need to play their part to stop the spread of coronavirus.

A new National Local Government Advisory Board will be established to work with the Test and Trace Service. This will include sharing best practice between communities across the country. Work to share lessons learnt will be led by a group of 11 Local Authorities from the breadth of the UK, representing rural and urban areas, who have volunteered to help localise planning.