Areas of enduring COVID-19 prevalence: drivers of prevalence and mitigating strategies.

Background: UK local authorities that experienced sustained high levels of COVID-19 between 1st March 2020 and 28th February 2021 were described by the UK Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies as areas of enduring prevalence. This research was carried out in order to examine the views of local authority Directors of Public Health, who played a crucial role in the local response to COVID-19, on reasons for sustained high levels of prevalence in some areas, alongside an investigation of the mitigation strategies that they implemented during the course of the pandemic.

Methods: Interviews were conducted with Directors of Public Health in 19 local authority areas across England, between July and November 2021.