Agenda item

The Board considered a presentation from Matthew Pearce (Agenda Item 4) on the Covid-19 Situational Report. Key points from the presentation were:

·         There had been a 100% increase in cases in the last week.

·         West Berkshire had the highest case rates in Berkshire, with 906.6 cases per 100,000 amongst the total population and 275.8 cases per 100,000 amongst the 60+ age group.

·         Case rates were significantly above national and regional averages.

·         The positivity rate was 14.4%, which was also above national and regional averages.

·         The latest data suggested that the rate of increase had slowed.

·         The age ranges with the highest number of positive results were 10-14 and 15-19.

·         Wards with the highest case rates were Ridgeway and Lambourn.

·         There had been a number of significant outbreaks at schools.

·         The data showed that people aged 25-59 were still getting the virus despite most being vaccinated.

·         Local authorities in South-West England that used the Immensa lab had seen the biggest rise in case rates in the last week and so there may be a link.

·         There was also a sub-variant of the Delta strain of the virus, which was more prevalent in South-West of England, which may be more transmissible.

·         A further explanation for the increase could be that the population had experienced less exposure to Covid previously and so had less immunity.

·         Numbers of Covid patients admitted to Royal Berkshire Hospital remained low – there were 4 new admissions up to 17 October with 4 patients on mechanical ventilation. There were 23 confirmed Covid-19 patients in hospital as of 19 October.

·         There were no Covid related deaths in West Berkshire in the last week.

·         Communications were ongoing on a range of issues.

·         Letters had gone out to parents about what they could do to protect themselves and their parents.

·         Work was underway with schools to look at additional measures.

·         Key groups had been stood back up (e.g. Gold, LOEB and Health Protection Board).

·         Community testing was focusing on high-risk / disproportionately represented groups.

·         Local contact tracing activity was ongoing.

·         The Safety Advisory Group continued to meet.

·         There was no suggestion that Plan B would be deployed imminently – this would include:

o   Urgent communication of the increased risk and the need to be more cautious.

o   Mandatory vaccine only certification in certain settings

o   Legally mandated face coverings in certain settings

o   Instruction to work from home for limited periods.

The Chairman noted that the acute NHS Trusts were stressing the importance of vaccination and that most of those who were seriously ill or dying had not been vaccinated or had only one dose. He suggested that messaging needed to promote this and encourage people to take up their booster jab once eligible.

The Chairman asked how the vaccination of the 12-15 age group was progressing. Matthew Pearce acknowledged that there had been some challenges with the 12-15 age group and noted that significant numbers had tested positive and then needed to wait 30 days before they could get a vaccine.

The Chairman also asked if areas that had been more affected by Covid earlier in the pandemic may be seeing less community transmission now. Matthew Pearce agreed that this was a plausible theory.

Councillor Steve Masters noted that rates were higher now than a year ago and asked if there would be major problems over the winter period. Matthew Pearce noted that there were significant uncertainties around the modelling. He agreed there was a risk with elevated rates going into winter, but vaccinations were helping to keep admissions low. He stressed that hospitals were planning for all eventualities and putting their Winter Plans in place.

Councillor Masters asked about engagement of hard-to-reach communities and testing rates amongst ethnic minority groups. Matthew Pearce confirmed that efforts were being more targeted and they were working with partners to engage these groups.

Councillor Masters expressed concern that there could be an explosion of cases associated with major events (e.g. fireworks at the racecourse) and suggested that mobile testing sites could be deployed. Matthew Pearce indicated that mobile testing sites could be considered. Event organisers were advised to encouraged attendees to test beforehand.

Councillor Alan Macro asked if West Berkshire Council had been consulted on the roll-out of Plan B. Matthew Pearce was not aware that the Council had been consulted, but suggested that it may have gone through Meridan Peachey as the Director of Public Health.