For the Committee to receive an update from Adult Social Care Services on COVID-19, to enable the Committee to monitor the ongoing pandemic and scrutinise the ongoing response to COVID-19.
Minutes:
The Director of Public Health for Public Health Dorset introduced the progress report on Public Health and Adult Social Care Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The main points raised during the presentation were as follows:
· Almost all current cases were Omicron, which took off during the 2nd week of Dec.
· During the New Year (the first week of 2022) BCP Council had very high rates of infection, with almost 1500 cases per 100,000, which was almost the highest rate since the start of mass testing.
· Up to date information saw cases falling to 811 per 100,000, with Dorset around 600 per 100,000 and the South West at 812 per 100,000.
· Hospital admissions were down since the previous week, with 77 people with covid in local hospitals.
· Policy changes were taking place and from 17 January there would be a change in the required isolation period for those who test positive. People can end self-isolation after day 5 as long as they provide two negative lateral flow tests at 24 hours apart. Day zero would be counted as the day symptoms start. An individual who has tested positive can then start taking lateral flow tests on day 5 of their isolation period. Furthermore, if a person tests positive using a lateral flow test, they no longer need to conduct a PCR test. However, individuals will need to show a positive PCR test result for any payment support required during a of covid isolation period.
· The Vaccination program was still underway, with 15,000 jabs per day being administered in the Dorset system alone. 83% of the eligible population had already had their booster which was noted as a huge Public Health achievement.
· The vaccination workforce was being reviewed to ensure that there was constant efficiency in the overall health service. Some vaccination staff were beginning to return to their previous roles.
· The JCVI decision on second doses for 12-15 year olds and for clinically vulnerable children 5-11 year olds was to be published shortly.
· Trusted Voices and the Vaccine ambassadors continued to work with communities on encouraging people to come forward and take up the vaccine offer.
· Current restrictions for Plan B and the Omicron variant were to be reviewed on January 26 with communications to be updated via the Outbreak Board during that week.
· The rules were changing in order to support people in returning to work safely.
· The Public Health day response team continued to be very busy to support the adult social care sector in managing incidents and outbreaks. Supporting schools and care settings were top of this priority.
· The supply of lateral flow tests had improved over the last 2 weeks and the NHS were continuing to provide targeted testing in high visibility locations.
· Local modelling suggests that current trajectory was following the best-case scenario locally, with a predicted continued fall in cases and hospital admissions.
· It was currently difficult to tell whether the fall in cases was due to reduced prevalence, fewer people testing, or more asymptomatic infection not being reported.
The Director of Public Health for Public Health Dorset answered questions and comments from the Committee. The main questions and answers heard were as follows:
· A member asked about what seemed to be a youth apathy towards the ongoing public health measures and process, including uptake of the second vaccine or the booster vaccine. Members were informed that a piece of work was ongoing on the engagement of people, specifically asking why they were not coming forward for initial or follow up vaccines. It was heard that there was still work to be done on understanding the barriers as well as re-emphasising the importance of the vaccine in protecting yourself and others.
· A member asked about the disparity between the real number of positive test results and that of those which are actually logged on the NHS system. The Committee heard that the sample size was large enough at a local level to see a trend. Prevalence in the South West was at 3.4%, which could be projected to the population of BCP for a rough figure. There were lots of factors playing into the drop in rates, but it was reiterated that this trend was best viewed using the national figures on zero prevalence.
· Members were informed that if PCR tests were not carried out then it would be very difficult to genotype cases. It was heard that epidemiologists look for signals such as case outbreaks as a method of underlying surveillance. Therefore, it was heard how vitally important it was to have an effective strategy for surveillance and for picking up new variants, prior to planning how to deal with it.
The Committee noted the update.