The Chief Executive delivered a presentation to update the Board in
respect of the Council’s response to COVID-19.
With regards to responses to previous OSB queries, the following
information was provided:
- Following an overview
of the revisions to be made to the Outbreak Control Plan in light of
Lockdown exit arrangements being provided, a query around potential impact
of revisions was made. In response,
the Chief Executive advised that in order to provide assurance
that relevant systems and processes were in place to respond to outbreaks,
enduring transmission and any new variants that may emerge, the OCP was
updated / revised as follows:
- Care homes: enhanced
support extended into care settings to include supported housing, extra
care housing and children’s homes and the testing regime in care homes;
- Schools: enhanced
support was now available to schools, including testing in schools and at
home;
- High risk settings and
the support to reduce risk in those settings;
- Updated testing
section detailing all the symptomatic and asymptomatic testing available;
- Local contact tracing
approach added, including support to isolate and local discretionary
financial support;
- Surge capacity section
added describing approach to surge testing for variant(s) of concern;
- Sections added on
community insights, tackling enduring transmission and building COVID-safe
communities;
- Section added on
vaccines and improving uptake in all communities to minimise health
inequalities arising from differential uptake in communities; and
- Section added on
lessons learnt and feedback to Government.
- Following an
update being provided on up-to-date vaccination numbers in Middlesbrough,
confirmation of numbers had been sought as the totals of the age
categories did not tally with the overall total. The Chief Executive advised that these totals, provided at the March 2021 meeting of OSB, included
only specific priority groups, so excluded (for example) health and social
care and care home staff, and those in priority groups five and six that
had already been vaccinated.
- Community
testing numbers were shared and a Member had sought confirmation of
numbers tested versus numbers of positive cases confirmed across all sites
as a result. The Chief Executive
advised that the total number of tests was 2,883, with 26 total positives
(0.90%).
- Following
discussion of vaccination hesitation and a request for provision of
vaccination refusal rates, by ethnicity, the Chief Executive advised that data provided by the Primary Care Network (not specifically
Middlesbrough) which had a combined population of 160k (against
Middlesbrough’s population of 149k and therefore not directly comparable)
showed emerging vaccine inequalities (as at 23/03/2021). Work was being undertaken to better
understand Middlesbrough’s local data, and with the Tees Valley Clinical
Commissioning Group to develop a Vaccine Equity Plan, to increase uptake
of the vaccines across all communities in Middlesbrough and narrow the
above gaps over the coming weeks.
- Following a request for confirmation of
the standard PPE provision to Care Homes, the Chief Executive advised that
PPE
supplies were distributed to health and social care providers (top-up
emergency supplies only); education settings; homeless provision; Local
Authority staff; testing sites; Domestic Violence refuges; mental health
community care; personal assistants; supported living services, extra care
provision, and day services. The
standard list of items available were face masks (various), gloves,
aprons, visors, eye protections, gowns (surgical and non-surgical) and
hand sanitiser.
In terms of the
latest local COVID-19 data, as at 7 April 2021 the rolling seven-day rate of
cases per 100k of the Middlesbrough population was as follows:
- Four new cases had been added to the system on 7 April 2021;
- 48 new cases had been diagnosed in the last seven days;
- 34.0 rate per 100k of population (last seven days); and
- 261.70 COVID-19 deaths per 100k population.
Regarding Gold
Command decisions made between 5 March 2021 and 31 March 2021, on 11 March 2021
the decision was taken for a further £1m of additional restrictions grant
funding to be made available, with an expectation that any uncommitted funds
(£3m for Middlesbrough) would be allocated by 31 March 2021. Single payments of £500 would be made to taxi
drivers to cover costs of COVID-19 impact / licensing fees, to a total of
£500,000. Once further guidance was
issued, a decision would be made on additional options of spend against a
remaining uncommitted £2.5m.
Following the
update, Members were afforded the opportunity to ask questions.
A
Member queried how GP surgeries would be encouraged to contact those older
patients who did not have access to email and/or text facilities. In response the Board heard that patient
lists would be obtained and direct contact made via a telephone call. It was anticipated that local contact tracing
staff would assist with this.
A
Member sought clarification in relation to the provision of home appointments for
vaccinations for those over the age of 80.
In response, it was explained that this was currently being looked into,
particularly in terms of logistical planning.
A
Member commended the work of the COVID-19 testing teams at Newport Community
Hub, which through his own experience was felt to be very professional and well
executed. The Chief Executive
acknowledged this point and commended all staff working at the various testing
sites for the work being carried-out. A
Member echoed these comments and congratulated all involved for delivering this
invaluable service.
The
Chief Executive highlighted that, from 9 April 2021, anyone could test
themselves at home twice per week – planning was currently taking place in
respect of this. It was hoped that individuals
would be able to attend any one of the four test sites to collect their first
test, where they would be assisted in completing it. Subsequent tests could then be ordered and
undertaken at home independently. In
response to a query regarding how long this initiative would last, it was
explained that this was unknown at present, however, it was anticipated to last
for some time as it was a national push from Government - alongside the
vaccination programme.
The Chair thanked the Chief Executive for his attendance and
contribution to the meeting.
NOTED