A RISE in demand in mental health support and increased risk of social isolation are among the impacts of the pandemic in County Durham.

There have been both positive and negative changes in eating, drinking and physical activity levels, according the the county's public health department's latest annual report.

The report highlights some of its recent work, including the vaccination programme, which has seen a higher than average take-up – with more than 79 per cent of people fully vaccinated and 88 per cent of people having had one dose.

Read more: From a bottle of vodka a day to staying sober: How recovery gave County Durham man his life back

Amanda Healy, director for public health said: "The last year has been one of the most challenging that any of us can remember and every part of our society has been affected by Covid-19.

I am proud of the way that our communities and services across the county have responded to these unprecedented times. I want to express our thanks again to all NHS and social care colleagues, care workers, voluntary sector, key workers and our communities for their ongoing efforts to ensure that services continue in County Durham.

"I particularly want to thank my team for all their hard work and support throughout the pandemic."

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She highlighted the autumn and winter plans to manage the continued risks of mixing indoors and the re-emergence of winter illnesses like flu, norovirus and other respiratory viruses.

Elsewhere, the report says health and wellbeing in County Durham remains worse than the England average – although it has improved in recent years,

However, health inequalities remain persistent and pervasive.

County Durham has above average numbers of people reporting long-term mental health problems, people who are living with a long-term health problem or disability, children in low income families and older people living in deprivation.

Recommendations being made this year are based around trying to promote positive behaviours by getting children to do more physical activity, reduce second hand smoke in home, raise awareness of the impact of increased alcohol intake.

Progress made on last year’s recommendations has been hampered by Covid.

Training with hot food takeaways to promote healthier changes to cooking practices have had to be re-arranged.

But the team was able to work with 775 households to help them with grants for heating boilers and insulation as part of efforts to tackle fuel poverty, and help was given to 362 homes to reduce energy bills.

The department is responding to increasing alcohol consumption by working on harm reduction campaigns and has established a Women's Recovery Academy.

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