Issue - meetings

Local Covid-19 Status Report

Meeting: 09/11/2021 - Slough Outbreak Engagement Board (Item 5.)

Local Covid-19 Status Report


Meeting: 12/10/2021 - Slough Outbreak Engagement Board (Item 5.)

Local Covid-19 Status Report


Meeting: 14/09/2021 - Slough Outbreak Engagement Board (Item 28)

Local Covid-19 Status Report

·  Vaccination Programme Update

Minutes:

The Interim Public Health Service Lead provided a summary of Slough’s current Covid-19 status. He advised that:

 

·  The positivity rate in Slough was marginally lower than in the rest of England and the South East.  There were indications that sporadic outbreaks continued to occur and the overarching trend was one of rising case numbers. It was useful to note that there had been thirteen and a half thousand cases of covid in Slough.  On the whole, the age range for most positive cases related to the working age population (25-59 year olds).

·  It was anticipated that the case rate amongst 11-15 year olds would rise following the reopening of schools. It was important to note that those testing positive at the beginning of the school term would most probably have become infected prior to the start of term rather than at school and the guidance from the DfE was to not count these as outbreaks. Schools had been testing extensively and plans to vaccinate school children were progressing. Pupils and teachers were encouraged to test at home twice a week. Those testing at home were unlikely report results unless they received positive PCR test results.

·  There was a lower vaccine take up rate amongst some ethnic groups. Case rates in the black African community and the black Caribbean community was on the rise with the highest number being amongst the South Asian community.

·  Covid related hospital admissions could sometimes lead to a prolonged stay. The death rate remained stable due to the levels of vaccination take up. However, it should be noted that protection from the vaccine took effect two weeks after vaccination.

 

The Chair requested that the latest messages regarding testing and vaccinations be included in the next issue of the Citizen magazine and the Council’s website. She also suggested that the mobile vaccination units be located outside shopping areas.

 

Following questions regarding low uptake of lateral flow testing, the SBC Interim Public Health Service Lead advised that the provision of testing at local pharmacies and enabling local businesses to carry out lateral flow tests was being considered. He added that more mobile testing units would also be deployed.

 

Action 3: The latest messages regarding testing and vaccinations be included in the next issue of the Citizen magazine and on the Council’s website.

 

Action 4: A vaccine update item be included as a regular agenda item at future Board meetings.

 

Resolved: That the Local Covid-19 Status report be noted.

 


Meeting: 04/08/2021 - Slough Outbreak Engagement Board (Item 20)

Local Covid-19 Status Report

·  Vaccination Programme Update

Minutes:

The Slough Borough Council (SBC) Interim Service Lead Public Health provided a slide presentation regarding the interim plans for dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic in Slough in the autumn of 2021.  He advised that:

 

·  Overall, case numbers, case rates in the over 60’s and the PCR positivity rate were all in decline.

·  Frimley Health figures showed a slight increase in the Covid hospitalisation figures.  It was important to bear in mind the 4-6 week time lag between becoming infected, showing symptoms and requiring hospitalisation.

·  Mortality in Slough was below the five year average, though this could be due to reasons other than Covid rates.

·  There would be a new quarantine hotel in Slough to deal with the increase in the number of red list countries and the anticipated influx of overseas students to local universities.

·  Efforts should continue to enhance vaccine uptake.  It was important to encourage a mind set of self actualisation with residents, rather than one of dependency.

·  With the lifting of restrictions, a surge in case rates was anticipated in the autumn and winter.

·  SBC needed to be able to anticipate National guidance, which was not always immediately available.

·  The government’s Contain Framework set out how national, regional and local partners should continue to work with each other, the public, businesses, institutions and other local system partners in their communities, to prevent, manage and contain outbreaks of COVID-19.

·  It was therefore important to maintain the response infrastructure and current levels of capacity as well as improve vaccine take up, overcome vaccine hesitancy and support those self-isolating at home.

·  Special attention should be given to the vulnerable, e.g. children and those in high risk settings.

·  NHS was undertaking detailed winter planning.

·  The best way to block the chains of transmission would be to limit social interactions.

·  SBC should encourage staff to be vaccinated though this may give further rise to the debate around individual freedom vs community responsibility.

·  The CDC provided detailed guidance regarding ventilation in educational and other settings. SBC could build on this work and on best practice elsewhere and tailor these to local needs.

·  Elected members and community leaders had a vital role in spreading the message about vaccination uptake.

 

Resolved – That the Local Covid-19 Status report be noted.

 


Meeting: 07/07/2021 - Slough Outbreak Engagement Board (Item 12)

Local Covid-19 Status Report

·  Vaccination Programme Update

Minutes:

The Public Health Service Lead gave an update of the current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic in Slough:

 

·  Slough’s case rates in comparison with the rest of Berkshire, were on the rise. The rate of infection amongst the over 60’s remained stagnant and continued to be of concern. However, it was important to note that Slough had a large population of young people which could skew the figures for the over 60’s.

·  There had been a rise in the positivity rate, but the rate was lower in Slough compared to the rest of South East England.

·  There had been a rise in the 4 wards which lay on the borders of neighbouring boroughs, which was of concern.

·  The number of individuals tested per hundred thousand of population was high, but it was important to note that these figures related to the three week period of the surge testing scheme. Surge testing had revealed that one school had an outbreak. There had been good engagement with surge testing from the community, schools & the Slough team. The return rate for surge testing was 73% and Slough’s total return rate was 61%.

·  Case rates at schools continued to be high. It had recently been  announced that school bubbles would no longer be in place.

·  Case rates were rising with the highest case rates among 19-24 year olds but this was a reflection of the lower vaccine uptake rates among this group as the vaccine had only recently been offered to them.

·  Engagement with community youth groups and young people to encourage vaccine take up was ongoing.

 

Key messages continued to be as follows:

 

·  To get the first and second dose of the vaccine - particularly young people.

·  There were plenty of opportunities and venues for vaccination available.

·  The Government proposed an end to restrictions on 19 July & 16 August. A detailed document was expected from Central Government regarding this, and the possible implications of lifting of restrictions needed to be evaluated and communicated.

·  Social distancing measures and the hands, face, space & fresh air guidelines should be adhered to.

·  Rapid testing would help keep case rates down, and if an individual was symptomatic or had a positive lateral flow test then this should be followed up by PCR test so that they may self-isolate if needed.

 

The Chair welcomed Stuart Lines, the new Director of Public Health for Berkshire, to the meeting.

 

Following questions from Members of the Board, the Public Health Service Lead advised that:

 

·  There were still funds in the contain outbreak management fund, which would continue to be available and community testing would be reviewed at the end of September and there was an expectation that this would continue until the end of March 2022.

·  The £500 payment self-isolation fund would continue till the end of September when it would be reviewed.

·  The wider fund for self isolation would continue so that those who needed to self isolate would receive the support they needed. In addition, there were several covid grants to be accessed which would help to maintain the current levels of  covid response.

·  There was a contingency in the Communications fund for autumn and winter considerations i.e. vaccinations, the need for additional testing, and concerns regarding the variant. It was within the remit of The Board to  inform Central Government that additional funding would be required to maintain current levels work.

·  The reason for the current rates of positivity was not clear and the  data needed to be further evaluated. Lower rates in Slough in comparison to the rest of Berkshire could be due to communications messages regarding surge testing and the importance of adhering to social distancing guidelines getting through to the public.  With regard to the proposed lifting of restrictions, the Council should continue to emphasize the importance of testing, vaccination and social distancing guidelines.

 

A Member stated that it was predicted that lifting restrictions may lead to large outbreaks. During recent outbreaks it was noted that even those who had been vaccinated had become infected and it was asked, if there were large outbreaks as predicted, what merits there were in continuing to vaccinate and test.

 

In response it was noted that  Slough’s population profile and its low vaccination rates meant that its population was more vulnerable to getting covid and having a worse experience due to low vaccination rates, particularly among some ethnic groups. 

 

A Member asked if there was any data showing what proportion of residents had been vaccinated and the possibility of mobile units visiting places of worship which would be open again from 19 July to encourage vaccine take up.

 

NHS colleagues were looking at increasing the options and opportunities for vaccination. Particularly targeting places where young people congregated, for example, fast food premises, sports arenas, music venues etc. As well as maximising the use of the mobile van and places of high footfall, for example, shopping malls and town centres.  The Board could encourage those premises which had been reluctant to allow vaccinators on their premises to do so.

 

Resolved – That the Local Covid-19 Status report be noted.