DUDLEY Council cabinet members will be asked to approve ongoing work to help protect residents across the borough from the coronavirus at a meeting next week.

The local authority is working with Public Health England, NHS and CCG to respond to the COVID-19 virus and the local authority's cabinet expected to give its support to the co-ordination and planning arrangements to help protect the public from the virus.

A report to the cabinet, which is due to meet on Tuesday March 17, says: "The situation is developing rapidly as we find out more about the virus and the current position in Dudley and nationally will be reported at the cabinet meeting.

"The number of current confirmed cases in the UK is increasing rapidly and although the vast majority are linked to travel from other countries, the risk of

person to person transmission in the UK is increasing, and it is important that partners in Dudley plan for cases in the borough."

Councillor Nicolas Barlow, Dudley's cabinet member for health and adult social care, said: "Dudley Council is working with NHS colleagues and all our partners to do everything we can to stop the virus spreading and to ensure the people of Dudley are protected.

"We are reassuring people that the risk to the people in Dudley remains low and are running training and awareness sessions with key people such as care workers.

"Good hygiene is the best prevention and there are some simple steps people can take to protect themselves and their family by washing hands regularly and thoroughly, and covering their mouth and nose with a tissue if they cough.

"Anyone who has been to one of the affected areas or who has been in contact with a confirmed case and is feeling unwell with a cough, fever or shortness of breath should use the 111 online service www.111.nhs.uk or phone the NHS 111 helpline for further advice straight away.

"It is really important that people with concerns don’t go to their GP surgery or a hospital to be tested, this is to protect others. There’s lots of advice and information online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus."

Dudley Council’s public health team is delivering containment training sessions to care workers this week - while the country remains in the containment phase of dealing with the virus.

To date more than 24,960 people in the UK have been tested with 319 positive cases, including 1 in the Dudley borough, and according to officials the risk to public health remains low.