A presentation will be given as an update on the current COVID situation at the meeting.
Minutes:
The Committee considered an update relating to Covid-19 which included detail of the current position, case rates, hospitalisations, death rate and infection rates.
The Committee noted that the data revealed the start of a downward trend and plateau phase in infection rates. The highest infection group in 7 day case rates was 18-34 age group, which was continuing to rise. Hospitalisations were stable and death rate was down. Additional pressures were highlighted to be workforce shortages in health and social care.
The
following comments and responses to questions were noted:
· Vaccination rates had increased but were slowing down particularly for 18-34 year olds, this may be partly due to the rise in infection rates in younger age groups, once diagnosed with Covid there was a need to quarantine for 28 days before they could access their next dose.
· The local outbreak management plan had been updated recently.
· There was a need and a role for members to keep sharing the message in communities to be cautious and respectful of others. Key messages were to maintain sensible precautions to limit spread of infection, get tested regularly and get vaccinated as soon as possible.
· The pressures in UHMN NHS Trust were real with 40-50 people in hospital and some in ITU including pregnant women. NHS was seeing increased demands on all NHS services and there was a pressure to catch up on backlog lists.
· There were consistently higher testing rates in Staffordshire, people were being encouraged to get lateral flow tests if showing any signs of infection. There were plenty of opportunities to get tested with pop up testing centres and LFT available on request.
· In terms of vaccination programme work with employers was ongoing to set up vaccination centres. Full guidance for vaccinating under 18’s was awaited before they could be rolled out in the same way other elements had been. A variety of approaches and incentives were being considered to encourage younger age groups to get vaccinated.
· It was considered there were other seasonal illnesses to prepare for this winter and that there was a role for members to promote the need to immunise against all illnesses not just Covid.
· The Cabinet Support Member requested that the Committee consider a report relating to the take up of childhood immunisations during the pandemic to a future meeting in the work programme.
· By law Care workers had to be fully vaccinated by 11 November 2021 to continue to work in the care sector. The Council was working with care home providers and other providers. There was a projected 20% gap in care workers who would not be vaccinated by 11 November and the Council was working with providers to ascertain if was a true gap.
The Chair highlighted the need to get the message out that care workers must start vaccinations by 18September 2021 if they wanted to continue to provide front line services and that the role of Members was to promote the messages in the Districts and Boroughs.
Resolved: