Lesley Jones, Director of Public Health to provide a verbal update at the meeting.
Minutes:
Lesley Jones, Director of Public Health reported that case rates of covid within the borough were rising again after plateauing with the most recent figures being just under 600 per 100,000 which was high. The ranking against Greater Manchester and England was falling but this was because case rates in other areas were going up faster.
Evidence was showing that the current spile could be attributed back to the Euro 2020 football tournament and also due to restrictions being lifted in England.
Transmission was linked to a wide range of settings and distributed across the borough and mostly among young adults.
Lesley reported that hospital admissions were rising, and this was expected to continue. The system was already highly pressured with non covid related illnesses and backlog. It was likely that there would be better outcomes and shorter stays. There had been no Covid related deaths reported over the last week.
Lesley stated that it would be hard to predict what will happen next, but it was anticipated that there would be a peak in cases towards the end of July with hospital admissions up by mid August. The case rates would come down more slowly as previously as when there had been a surge in the past this had been quickly followed by a lockdown. A further surge in cases was also expected in Autumn.
It was also reported that the potential for long covid should be recognised and the impact that this will have on the communities across the borough as well as other issues such as business continuity.
Lesley asked that everybody continue to be cautious and wear masks where possible and carry on with hand washing and social distancing and undertaking regular testing.
The vaccination uptake was at 80% amongst adults for first dose and 64% for second doses.
Uptake for the over 40’s age group was good but not so good for younger age groups.
Work was being carried out to help people feel motivated to have the vaccination. Convenience was an issue that had been considered so evening sessions had been put in place as well as pop up sessions.
Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and the following points were raised:
Lesley Jones explained that Gorsey Clough Care Home had established a dedicated unit within the home that supported Covid patients following discharge from hospital and allowed them to see their families at the end of their life and prevent discharge into other care homes. This provision helped prevent onward transmission in other care homes and provide a comfortable end of life with their family around them.
Adrian Crook explained that this was a decision that was made very early on in the pandemic to commission care for Covid positive people that had been identified as being at the end of life. There were 34 deaths in the care home at beginning of pandemic and this was seen as a vital service.
Adrian reported that if those numbers were taken out then the deaths in care homes for the population size of Bury was average for Greater Manchester.
Bury has slightly more care home beds per population than other towns such as Salford.
Adrian explained that the law that Councillor Holt was referring to hadn’t been passed yet therefore he hadn’t received the details relating to this or any guidance. It was anticipated that the legislation would come in at the end of autumn and care homes would be given a 16 week grace period in which to get their staff vaccinated. Adrian explained that the timescales had been considered and staff would need to begin receiving vaccinations in September to ensure compliance in time.
The Vaccine Task Force are currently holding individual meetings with the care home staff who are reluctant. Progress is being made. Bury are currently at 90% of care home staff have had first or first and second dose. This is the highest figure in Greater Manchester. Business continuity plane were being drawn up in relation to staff that refused to receive the vaccination.
It was agreed:
That the update be noted and Lesley Jones and Adrian Crook be thanked.