Agenda item

The Director of Public Health will give a presentation on the

current situation in relation to Covid-19 including recovery plans.

This item will be in presentation format to ensure that the most up

to date information can be presented to the Health and Wellbeing

Board.

The Board received a presentation on the current situation in relation to Covid-19 including recovery plans. This item was in presentation format to ensure that the most up to date information could be present to the Board. The Director of Public Health was in attendance to present and respond questions.

Key points raised during the presentation included:

·        York had the lowest rate of Covid-19 cases in the Yorkshire and Humber region for the period 5/9/21 to 11/9/21, and was also below the national average rate.

·        However, there were consistently more than 400 new cases of Covid per week in the city, a rate which previously would have caused the imposition of a lockdown.

·        It was important not to become complacent around Covid, as even though fewer people would be hospitalised, isolation was still legally mandated to isolate, having knock-on effects throughout society such as work absences and relatives having to care for those infected. A significant proportion would also develop Long Covid.

·        The highest proportion of cases were in the 10-14 and 15-19 age groups, which was consistent across the whole of the UK. This was likely due to vaccinations only recently been available to 16-17 year olds and the rollout had not yet been extended to 12-15 year olds.

·        There were also cases across all age groups, with relatively high rates amongst the 45-49 age group.

·        As of 15/9/21 there were 40 people in York hospitals with Covid-19 and as of 10/9/21 4 people in the intensive care unit. There had been a steady increase in hospital admissions in previous months, and they were expected to increase further into winter.

·        There were some deaths due to Covid, but far fewer than at earlier stages of the pandemic, which was attributable to the effects of the vaccination programme.

·        As of 26/8/21, there were 6 care homes with a confirmed Covid-19 infection of at least 1 staff member or resident. 1 care home had experienced an outbreak of 2 or more cases on 8/9/21.

·        In the 7 days up to 13.9.21 there were 127 children of primary or secondary school age that had tested positive across 26 schools. These cases were expected to increase as a result of these outbreaks.

·        63% of 16-17 year olds had received their first vaccination, and 7% had received their second. These figures were expected to rapidly increase.

·        Since contract tracing services were taken over by local authorities, cases completed in York had consistently been above 90%.

Comments from Board members included:

·        Enhanced booster doses of the vaccination, as well as co-administration with the winter flu jab were taking place.

·        A total of c.150,000 individuals had received their first vaccination, which was around82.4%, with second doses at 76%. The target was 90% which had been achieved for several age brackets.

·        The ward with the lowest vaccine take-up was Hull Road, at 63% for first doses.

·        Pop-up clinic locations were being made more flexible to address accessibility issues. Information leaflet drops were also ongoing to those who had not yet taken up the vaccine.

·        There were high vaccination figures for students returning to York, as well as first years.

·        Nimbus Care and partners were running on-site vaccination centres for Fresher’s Week at the universities.

·        The booster vaccines were to be delivered through pharmacies and general practitioners, as well as Askham Bar through Nimbus Care.

·        There was an issue of people who had received their first dose in Home Nations other than England, as well as abroad, who then were unable to prove their vaccination when seeking a second. There was to be a formal response to these issues from the NHS Vale of York CCG.

Resolved:

i.             That the contents of the update be noted.

Reason: To allow the Board to remain updated on the current situation relating to Covid-19 and Covid recovery.