The Committee will receive an update from Somen Banerjee – Director of Public Health on the latest position in Tower Hamlets regarding Covid-19 (to be notified at the meeting).

The Committee received an update from Covid-19 from Somen Banerjee – Director of Public Health, the main points of the questioning maybe summarised as follows:

The Committee:

v  Was advised that since January there has been a significant improvement although the incidences of epidemic remain in the 25- to 34-year-olds and the 55- to 64-year-olds.

v  Noted that across the Borough the highest levels are in Poplar; Bromley by Bow and Shadwell and the disparity trends to continue by ethnicity and is particularly prevalent amongst the Black African and Bangladeshi populations.  Whilst there is still a disproportionately high number of cases in the Boroughs social housing.

v  Noted that 40,000 Tower Hamlets residents have now had at least the first douse in terms of the priority the initial priority groups 80% of 80yrs and above; 78% of 75yrs to 79yrs and 39% of the clinically extremely vulnerable group. Although it was noted that this category has now been expanded from 9,000 based on the original criterion to 25,000 to the new criterion as clinically extremely vulnerable based on social variables such as ethnicity; deprivation and body-mass index.  This has a particular effect on Tower Hamlets relative to other London boroughs as the number of clinically extremely vulnerable and has increased to a higher level than other boroughs across North-East London primarily because of ethnicity and deprivation.

v  Noted that those individuals who are not taking up vaccine will be contacted to talk through if they have any issues about the vaccines and how those issues can be resolved.

v  Noted that from the 1st of February 2021 a Vaccine Helpline funded by LBTH and supported with training and resources by GP Care Group had been established and is now open 7 days per week, between 8:00 am to 8:00 pm with multilingual staff to (i) answer queries; (ii) contact those who are vaccine hesitant; (iii) book appointments to local clinics and mass vaccination centres.

v  Accepted that the impact of COVID-19 on communities was going to rely in part on the quality of communication regarding health risk and danger. Any co-ordinated approach by partners and stakeholders needs to take full account of the way life conditions, cultural values, and risk experience affect actions during a pandemic. Unfamiliarity with sociocultural, economic, psychological, and health factors within any community can jeopardise effective communication at all levels.

v  Was advised that people with Learning Difficulties will now be prioritised for a Covid vaccine as they face a higher risk of death from Covid-19 and so will now be moved up the priority list.

v  Noted that the Government is piloting a new diagnostic test, called a lateral flow test, for detecting the virus that causes Covid and to prioritise schools so when students go back to school, they will be given lateral flow tests in the school. However, the purpose of these lateral flow tests is to familiarise them with taking these tests at home so that it becomes part of routine life  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6