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Agenda item

Covid-19 situational report

Minutes:

The Board considered a presentation from Matthew Pearce (Agenda Item 4) on   the Covid-19 situational report. Key points were as follows:

·         The latest data showed a reduction in testing rates at national and regional levels and in all areas of Berkshire apart from Bracknell Forest. 

·         The positivity rate for infection in West Berkshire was 6.4 percent, which was lower than the regional and national averages.

·         Cases in West Berkshire were 215.2 per 100,000; also below regional and national averages. (The most recent data was 250 per 100,000.)

·         Cases amongst the 60+ age group had risen to 49.7 per 100,000.

·         The highest weekly rates were amongst young people aged 15-29, but rates were increasing in older age groups.

·         There had been a significant rise across all age groups across the District with a total of 7,788 confirmed cases from the start of the pandemic.

·         The epidemic curve graphs clearly indicated the UK was experiencing a third wave of the pandemic. In West Berkshire, there had been a 58 percent rise in cases from the 2 weeks previous and a 257 percent increase from the week previous to that.

·         There had been 255 Covid-19 related deaths in West Berkshire since the start of the pandemic, but there had been no deaths reported in the last 2 weeks; it is clear vaccinations were having a positive impact on the death rate.

·         There was a slight increase in hospital admissions in the District with 18 new Covid-19 admissions between the 5th and 11th of July and 6 confirmed patients in hospital with 1 on mechanical ventilation.

·         It was stressed that the pandemic was not over yet and there was still a need for caution and restraint. There was uncertainty in the modelling around this because much was dependent on our behaviour.

·         The key messages were around protective measures and interventions rather than restrictions. These included: testing, isolation, vaccination, face covering in crowded areas.

·         Differential in 2 types of tests - the Lateral flow was for those with no symptoms and the PCR was for those with symptoms, and were sent away for processing. Home testing kits were available online or in pharmacies and various areas in communities on the Council website.

Discussion occurred around the number of cases and around age ranges affected. Matt Pearce said there had been rises in cases across all age ranges and this was likely due to increased socialisation from easing of restrictions; he concluded that the message should be encouragement of a more gradual mixing with caution still in place.

A question was posed on how hospitalisation and vaccination rates were correlated and if there was any data to suggest that the unvaccinated groups would require more hospitalisations. Matt Pearce confirmed that the data was not available to the public but that the most important thing everyone could do to protect themselves was to get vaccinated.

Questions were also asked around further measures of surge testing and if contingencies were in place for a drastic surge in cases requiring hospitalisations. Matt Pearce said that the modelling for that was difficult because so much of it was dependent on the new variants and National government frameworks; however, he said this would always be under review. 

Discussion occurred around Lateral Flow Test availability and whether it would meet the demand. Matt Pearce confirmed that as far as he was aware there were sufficient tests available and that there was more of a problem with people collecting the tests and determining their use and requirements for them.

Discussion also occurred around how there appeared to be little clarity surrounding regulations for large events, testing, vaccine passports and cross-border issues and whether there should be a communication plan around this. Matt Pearce and Sean Murphy said that details were still being worked through, but much of the responsibility was on venues and businesses, and although this action was not compulsory, the Council would provide local business advice to those who required it.

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