Report Reveals Snapshot of Covid Impact

Seven million items of PPE, two million lateral flow tests and more than 5,000 incidents are just some of the achievements delivered by organisations in Staffordshire throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

A report by Staffordshire’s public health chief, published to coincide with the 2^nd anniversary of the first UK Covid cases, details how organisations and communities responded during the first 21 months of the pandemic.

As well as handing out seven million items of personal protective equipment and carrying out more than 2 million lateral flow tests in the community, organisations also:

• delivered 3,500 emergency food parcels in the first 6 weeks
• traced 87% of close contacts and gave them advice
• dealt with more than 5,000 Covid-19 incidents and outbreaks.

The report also details the devastating impact Covd-19 has had on healthcare systems, businesses and Staffordshire communities, with health and social care particularly badly affected.

Dr Richard Harling, Director for Health and Care at Staffordshire County Council said:

“This report gives an insight into both the huge challenges we have faced and the major achievements we have delivered together.

“Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on our communities and healthcare systems, and it is crucial that we learn from this approach and build on what we have achieved so far. Our challenge now is to build on what we have learned during the pandemic and ensure we can continue this as we look to the future."

Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council said:

“I have been incredibly proud of the response in Staffordshire, from our communities, businesses and partners, to support the council and our residents through the most challenging two years.

“We are certainly not out of the woods yet, with new Covid-19 variants appearing all the time. However, we are in a good position to tackle these head-on, with the partnerships and ways of working we have developed during this pandemic.”

You can read the full Director of Public Health report on the county council's website.