Rutland and Melton MP Alicia Kearns has welcomed over £2.4 million of Government funding for Leicestershire and Rutland County Councils to help keep COVID-19 under control.

Every Local Authority in England has been provided with a share of £300 million to develop tailored outbreak control plans, which will set out measures to identify and contain potential coronavirus outbreaks locally in places such as workplaces, housing complexes, care homes and schools.

Leicestershire County Council and Rutland County Council will receive £2,309,000 and £120,148 respectively to develop and implement COVID-19 actin plans.

Local Authorities will work closely with local NHS and public health directors, alongside the new NHS Test and Trace service to ensure there are sufficient resources to tackle the virus locally.

This could, for example, include using the money to recruit additional staff where they are required to support local services.

Local efforts will be crucial to support the national rollout of NHS Test and Trace, which has already tracked tens of thousands of contacts of people who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Rutland and Melton MP, Alicia Kearns, said:"I pay tribute to our fantastic Local Authorities who have worked at pace and with determination to control the spread of the virus locally and support those most in need.

"This significant additional Government funding will be key in bolstering our local efforts, and I will support Local Authority leaders to ensure it is put to good use."