Agenda item

Report to follow.

Christina Gray gave a slideshow presentation on Covid-19. This gave an overview of the position in terms of numbers and an overview of the plan. Looking at NHS lab results, there are 722 total cases since the beginning of records. The current rate of incidence is low at the moment.

·       The negative effects of Covid related restrictions on public health are now significant. The virus is still a present risk.

·       The LA needs to submit an outbreak plan by 30 June. This will be a method to identify and contain outbreaks.

·       Remember that the virus will travel through multiple locality areas. We are working with the South West region authorities to align policy. This work is also taking place in the Resilience Forum and BNSSG. We are already doing a lot of joint work but now formalising this, especially in regard to care homes.

·       There will be 2 new boards: the Covid Health Protection Committee and the Communication and Engagement board. The Engagement Board is Mayoral led, building on existing engagement work and equalities. The outbreak plan needs high levels of public trust to work. The Health Protection Committee contains a wide and diverse membership of health experts. This is to provide visible leadership and works through existing health networks such as the HWB.

·       The Covid data is held in the joint bio security system, which is nationally held. However, local authorities are important contributors as they can get live feedback from the public. Our local intelligence then feeds into the data.

·       Testing / tracing / isolating. Identify a case, identify ongoing transmission and stop the spread. Test tells us if someone is positive at the time. Testing needs to be agile and fast to deploy correctly and accessible for the public. An antibody test is being rolled out to key staff, which will tell if you have been exposed in the past. Note that we do not currently know whether this grants immunity.

·       Health protection committee is expected to account and help vulnerable people e.g. homeless.

·       There needs to be specific plans for care homes and schools. The BCC Education Director has regular meets with school heads, with lots of mutual communication, support and advice. There is a response plan in place for schools. Each school has its own needs.

·       The outbreak plan has an appendix of high risk contexts, e.g. prisons, homeless, BAME community. This is a planning process not a fixed object. We need to help vulnerable people to isolate otherwise the outbreak plan cannot work. Some will have social, welfare or economic reasons that incline them to resist isolating.

Discussion Notes:

·       Members gave their thanks to CG and the public health team for developing a comprehensive Outbreak Plan.

·       The BCC Director of Policy will be leading on managing and supporting the Engagement Board. Engagement has been going well so far, but this will formalise the approach to take it into the next level.

·       There have been some concerns from older people and BAME individuals about mixed messages. It is important there is unified messaging based on trusted data.

·       VCSE will be expected to do a lot of support work. Community organisations are standing down their response work and moving back to business as usual, while being more aware of lessons learned from virus. They we will need to be informed ASAP if they need to go back to response work as they cannot turn on a pinhead. Engagement is critical to get into communities.

·       There is a contact tracing app, which is simple to use, however we realise we are not in a one size fits all situation.

·       Communications will need to identify a contact number clearly so people will actually pick up the phone.

·       Acute colleagues were asked whether they would like to attend the Technical Board. This is an open opportunity for people who want to be engaged.