Agenda item

Mark Adams, Director of Public Heath (South Tees) (CCG) will be in attendance to provide an update on Covid-19 and the local Public Health / NHS response.

Recommendation: Panel notes the information provided.

The Director of Public Health (South Tees) was in attendance to provide the panel with an update in respect of COVID-19 and the local Public Health and NHS response. The Director advised that at the last Health Scrutiny Panel meeting, as held on 22 September 2020, the 7 day rolling average figure for the COVID-19 infection rate in Middlesbrough was 42.6 per 100,000 (19 September 2020). Today that rate had climbed to 268.8 per 100,000 (11 October 2020).

In terms of analysis by age the figures showed that the prevalence of COVID-19 was highest amongst the age range 23-34 (data extracted on 12 October), which was older than the main student body and was probably why the infection rate was proliferating. The panel was provided with a graphical representation showing COVID cases over the previous 14 day by LSOA area. The graph highlighted that there were positive COVID cases spread through all areas of the town and there had been a total of 625 positive cases in the previous 14 days.

It was acknowledged that the Government had placed Middlesbrough and Hartlepool in Tier 2 'high' restrictions from 3 October 2020 and it was explained to the Panel that this meant that:-

• People must not socialise with anybody outside of their household or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place.
• People must not socialise in a group of more than 6 outside, including in a garden or other spaces like beaches or parks (other than where specific exemptions apply in law).
• Businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-Secure manner, other than those which remain closed in law.
• Certain businesses selling food or drink on their premises are required to close between 10pm and 5am. Businesses and venues selling food for consumption off the premises, can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-thru.
• Schools, universities and places of worship remain open
• Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees
• Exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors. These will only be permitted indoors if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with (or share a support bubble with)
• People can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, for work or to access education, but should look to reduce the number of journeys they make where possible

In response to the restrictions the Local Authority had put forward a number of asks from Government. This included an:-

• An exit strategy from the current restrictions
• Testing & Extended Tracing
• Communications
• Support for Care Homes
• Education & Enforcement
• Support for Vulnerable People (Help Boro Support)
• Support for businesses
• Increased uptake of Flu Vaccine
• Support for Homelessness and Asylum Seekers
• Local Council Tax Subsidy (LCTS) grants
• Early access to the approved Towns Fund and Future High Streets Fund

In response to the information provided the Panel was afforded the opportunity to ask questions and the following issues were raised by Members.
 

A Member of the panel queried whether it would be possible to have the data broken down by ward on a regular in order to demonstrate to residents that this was an issue that affected all areas of the town. The Director explained that the graphical representation showing COVID cases over the previous 14 day by LSOA area, as shown in the presentation, was generated on a weekly basis and could be shared with Members.

In respect of the Local Authority’s ask for there to be greater local responsibility over the track and trace system it was questioned as how the Director anticipated that would work in practice. The Director advised that if local Directors of Public Health were given more responsibility over track and trace it would enable them to pick up asymptomatic cases. Then by testing people who were yet to present with symptoms but had contracted the virus and were spreading it unknowingly in the community the number of cases could be reduced significantly. For example, at present there were people carrying out caring roles in the community, who were not displaying any COVID symptoms, however, they could potentially have the virus and be passing it onto very vulnerable members of the community. Similarly if this type of testing could be introduced in schools it would assist in reducing the negative impact caused on pupils by having to repeatedly send home class / year group bubbles.
 

The point was also made that when receiving a call from a local number it was more likely to be answered. Staff were also better placed to provide advice on the support available to people locally to help them self-isolate. It was emphasised that some form of financial resource would need to be provided by Government in order for a local track and trace model to be developed. Other partners in the community could also be used to assist in undertaking local contact tracing. It was emphasised that our model would need to evolve over the next couple of weeks and this was an issue that would be discussed at the forthcoming Health Protection Board meeting. Some aspects had already agreed, for example, the use of COVID champions to ensure important messages were being delivered to all members of our local community.

The view was expressed that there was a real need to shift the cultural norm to ensure that wearing a mask, for example, became the accepted norm.

A Member of the panel raised a query in respect of the temporary testing station that was to be situated in Hemlington. It was queried whether the necessary precautions had been put in place to ensure people going for a COVID test did not visit the local shops on the way. The Director of Public Health advised that there would be communications put out in respect of the temporary station and it would be reinforced that people visiting for a test must not visit any other place on the way to/from the test centre.

AGREED that regular communications be provided to Members in respect of the localised COVID-19 data available and a further update from the Director of Public Health be given at the panel’s next meeting.