Minutes:
Lesley Jones, Director of Public Health provided the committee with a verbal update and the latest information related to Covid 19.
Infection rates were high with a rapid rise at the end of August per head of population with 25 per 100,000 now increased to 174 per 100,000.
Will Blandamer reported that at a recent gold meeting there was a high positive rate for the area and Bury was the second highest across all the GM authorities. The latest Government interventions wont impact on reducing figures for some time whilst hospital admission rates grow across GM although that has not been the case in Fairfield.
Councillor Gunter asked if it was possible to identify the reason for an increase in cases as Bolton had an incident with one person returning from holiday and not isolating.
There was no incidents linked to the increase and rates had been generally persistent across the borough.
Councillor Walmsley commented on examples of testing at centres and home testing kits when people had not been able to register them in the system.
It was acknowledged that there had been a range of problems with testing and the capacity of national laboratory testing. Pop up walk in centres would help with testing and there were a few teething problems linked to the national portal. Two walk in centres were available with a third site to open in Radcliffe next week with others to follow.
The turnaround of test results was a national priority and data would still be an underestimate due to the time delay of results.
The Chair commented on the testing process and in some cases with home kits they then needed registering online. The pilot saliva testing in Salford was mentioned and had this been a success.
It was reported that people can now register their details at the site as one of the objectives was to help people who may not have digital access. Turnaround times had caused problems along with void results. Laboratory testing was increasing but could not meet the demand and the saliva testing was very recent so no results were known although this would in due course be evaluated.
Councillor Walker had been following the statistics across the country and were GM’s figures so much higher due to testing more than other areas.
The figures across the North West accounted for around 25% of cases in the country. When lockdown was first lifted the rates in Bury were still a little higher and with returning back to work and social interactions this had caused the trend to continue. Even in Wigan which had one of the lowest rates, once cases start to double the figures increase on a rapid basis.
The current situation was endemic and embedded across all sectors of the local community in the borough.
The Chair commented on the control of the virus in the education sector and will any new restrictions help stop the spread. Schools already had safe environments although many groups had been sent home since September related to cases within their bubbles.
It was anticipated that their return in September would see rates pushed up a little but evidence suggests that it was communities brining the virus into schools rather than the other way around. There had been no large scales outbreaks in schools or care homes so it was more community transmissions.
It was clear that arrangements in place were not enough as rates were still going up but introducing stronger measures can have a negative impact on other things so it was a balance of risks.
The Chair and Councillor Kersh asked for figures on positive test results and they were currently being recorded from 10% of tests conducted.
Councillor Holt commented on phone calls he was receiving from local residents about mental health services and asked was there anywhere to direct questions or seek guidance on this topic. The Government website was pointed out as a good source for support and information, although this can sometimes be hard to interpret. Lesley Jones stated that if Councillors were struggling to make the right contacts her team would try and help out.
Councillor Walmsley discussed death rates by infection and those who had passed away due to lack of treatment for other conditions or had an unconfirmed case of Covid.
Over time and with the process involved this information would be available further down the line. Excess deaths would be judged and a report made known in the future.
Councillor Kersh added that secondary measures to combat Covid could cause more deaths than the pandemic itself and pointed out mental health conditions and possible suicides.
It was a balance of risks that needed to be considered and one was people not being able to get the treatment they need due to a fear of visiting hospital or not being able to access the services they need.
It was agreed:
That the report be noted.