Agenda item

Covid-19 Update

Dr Shade Agboola, Director of Public Health will provide an update to the Committee.

Minutes:

Dr Shade Agboola, Director of Public Health gave an update to the Committee. Nationally, the number of covid cases was reducing. The West Midlands (WM) had the highest rate in the country and the current position was 195 cases per 100,000 (100k) of population. This was reduced from 218, with the rate across England being 148 per 100k population. A breakdown was provided of the rates across different parts of the WM. The lockdown was working, but at a slower rate than in the earlier phases of the pandemic.

 

Warwickshire was the second lowest area of the WM region at 143 cases per 100k population. Data was provided for each district and borough area showing a downward trend. The positivity of test results was also reducing. An update was given on the testing arrangements over six sites in the County, with over 70k tests having been completed to date.

 

Reference to the workplace offer for self-led testing and the support available to Warwickshire businesses. A national business offer targeting companies with over 50 employees was also available. The number of outbreaks in care and workplace settings was reducing. However, once an outbreak had established, it was difficult to control. This was also the case in office settings. A presentation had been developed for companies to deliver training to their staff. There were key messages around contact tracing and encouraging measures more stringent than the national guidance.

 

Reference to the new variants of Covid and surge testing to identify cases of the South African, Brazilian and other new variants. The Kent (UK) variant was the predominant one and was more transmissible. There were concerns that it could mutate. In the region, three areas had been involved in the surge testing and no cases had been found. From sampling of test results in Warwickshire, no variants had been identified. However, preparations were being put in place to respond, should variant covid cases be identified.

 

The following questions and comments were submitted:

 

  • A question on the contribution that vaccinations were making to reducing numbers of new cases. There were cautious perceptions on the contribution that vaccinations were having on the reduced rates, but the evidence of this was awaited.
  • A point on the consistency of advice given to people when being vaccinated, to continue to observe the safety measures. This was an issue of quality control, as messaging should be provided. Alison Cartwright confirmed that vaccination reduced the impact of Covid, but it could still be caught and transmitted. She agreed to raise this concern with all vaccination centres. A contrary view from other councillors, that excellent information had been provided when they had been vaccinated.
  • It was reiterated that there had not been any covid variants identified from the random samples of tests taken.
  • Further information was sought on the national approach to assess the impact of the vaccinations on the reduction in covid cases. Shade Agboola hoped it was a combination of vaccinations, testing and people observing the guidance that was reducing case numbers.

 

Resolved

 

That the update is noted.