Coronavirus - Military drafted in to help South Yorkshire councils deal with virus and continue to keep social care running

The South Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum brings together all the agencies dealing with emergencies in the county, the latest of which is coronavirus.

The main agencies involved are South Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, the four councils, the NHS, Public Health England and the Environment Agency.

The most senior leaders from each of these organisations attend regular Forum meetings and the agencies work together to prepare for incidents and produce emergency plans.

Other partners such as the Highways Agency, public transport, utility companies and voluntary agencies may also become involved.

Military personnel are already working with the 38 Forums in England on their coronavirus response plans and local government minister Robert Jenrick says additional staff will now be drafted in.

He said: "The request to the Ministry of Defence is for additional non-uniform personnel to assist Local Resilience Forums to support local authority elements of COVID-19 response plans, including social care.

"This is in addition to the 38 already involved in helping Forums with local planning. Up to 70 Ministry of Defence planners and liaison officers have been activated to support public services, local authorities and emergency services in preparing their response to the coronavirus outbreak."

Social care, along with protecting the economy and local businesses, is seen as a key priority for the government.

Mr Jenrick added: As part of the national effort to keep the public safe and deliver essential public services, this government stands with local councils at this difficult time.

"My absolute priority is to ensure they are well placed to respond to coronavirus and protect vital services, including social care.

"Everyone needs to play their part to help the most vulnerable in society and support their local economy, and the government will do whatever is necessary to support these efforts."

In a briefing held on March 16, Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked members of the public to avoid unnecessary social contact and work from home if possible in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus.