The global Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting measures taken to reduce the spread of the virus have had an unprecedented impact on the national and local economy and on people’s wellbeing and mental (as well as physical) health. Nationally the magnitude of the recession caused by the pandemic is unprecedented, GDP declined by 9.8% in 2020 the steepest drop since records began in 1948.

The pandemic has also had a severe impact on people’s mental health and wellbeing, due to long periods of anxiety, isolation, and uncertainty. The Herefordshire Community Wellbeing Survey 2021 found 28% of people reported high levels of anxiety, 32% experienced drop in household income, 33% doing less exercise, and 30% sleeping less well. Wellbeing is lowest in those living in the most deprived areas.
The council has worked across all directorates to support businesses, residents and communities throughout the pandemic to remain as safe as possible and to prevent and reduce spread of infection and protect those most vulnerable in our society.
Our focus now moves towards recovery. Over the coming months the true impact of the pandemic will become better known for the economy, community wellbeing and organisation.

To support the recovery cabinet approved a £6.1m COVID Recovery Plan which includes the economy, community wellbeing and organisation. The recovery plan now focuses on the immediate impactful actions we need to take in the short term. Our priorities are to:

- Establish Safe and Welcoming Places
- Support Business Viability and Resilience,
- Support Employment
- Support Wellbeing.

An element of the recovery plan will be to provide additional capacity to the Talk Community Health and Wellbeing Team to deliver mini health checks and healthy lifestyle behavioral support within the community. This support will provide people the advice and support needed, to stop smoking, be more active, reduce alcohol consumption, lose weight and eat healthier.

The current service provides 12 week evidence based lifestyle support to enable, individuals, and groups, the time and support needed to make positive, and sustainable lifestyle choices within their community – helping improve their overall health and wellbeing. Additional capacity within the service will allow a greater reach into Herefordshire communities and further opportunities to address lifestyle risk factors associated with ill-health, covid-19 complications and improve wellbeing.