The LGA says that coronavirus has exposed existing health inequalities which need to be levelled up if we are to protect our communities in future.

Local authorities are anticipating a second wave of homelessness of people hit by the coronavirus pandemic’s economic fall out.

The government has announced that care workers looking after people in their own homes will be offered weekly coronavirus tests.
The Department of Health and Social Care said that those working for CQC-registered providers will receive weekly PCR tests to administer at home, which will help identify more asymptomatic cases and protect care users who are more vulnerable to the virus.

The Centre for Policy Studies has claimed that freezing public sector pay for the next three years could save a cumulative £23 billion.
The think tank argues that since the start of the pandemic, private sector workers have suffered far more than those in the public sector, and makes the case for public sector pay restraint over the next three years to ensure the labour market isn’t unfairly weighted towards the public sector.

Baroness Vere has called upon local authorities to ensure key transport routes to coronavirus test centres are kept open and running smoothly this winter.

It has been reported that millions of public sector workers in England, with the exception of NHS workers, face a pay freeze next year.
The BBC has learnt that the 5.5 million affected will include key workers lauded for their service during the pandemic, from the armed forces and police, to teachers and civil servants.
The Treasury is trying to bolster public finances after a huge rise in spending to fight coronavirus. Government borrowing hit its highest October level this year as spending soared to support the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.

A bill to reform local government elections, democracy, performance and governance has been passed in the Senedd.

The Centre for Ageing Better has reported that coronavirus risks setting people in mid-life on a path to poverty and ill-health in old age.
The State of Ageing in 2020 report warns that poor health, unsafe and low-quality housing, and a lack of social connections have exacerbated the impact of the pandemic particularly among the less well-off.

More than 50 projects have been awarded a share of a £10 million pot to increase tree numbers in urban areas through small-scale planting projects.