Agenda item
Covid-19 in Tower Hamlets - summary and current priorities
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Minutes:
The Board received a presentation providing a summary on the Covid- 19 epidemic in Tower Hamlets and the current. The main points of the discussions may be summarised as follows:
The Committee noted that:
- The Covid-19 epidemic has dominated the Councils workload and priorities since the crisis began and the lockdown was in place.
- The Mayor John Biggs wished to place on record his thanks to all the health practitioners; community activists and council officers who had been working hard on guidance for businesses on making workplaces 'Covid secure’.
- The Council are continuing to work with partners across Tower Hamlets to help tackle the spread of the virus and to make sure that residents, particularly those most vulnerable, are given all the support they need.
- Over the past few months, the communities of Tower Hamlets have come together to respond to an invisible challenge. However, it is at times of challenge that we also see the very best of the human spirit and in every corner of Tower Hamlets people have been working together from across the Boroughs diverse communities to tackle coronavirus have selflessly putting their hands up to help others;
- The local response to the pandemic has been second to none. It has been incredibly heartening to see so many volunteers, community groups, partner organizations and council staff working together.
- With regards to the development of recovery strategieswe still do not know precisely what that means in terms of the new normal. Therefore, there needs to be a dialogue about what we can learn and how we can protect our community. Especially when considering the anxiety about the differential impact on groups of people across the country e.g. older people with chronic health conditions and the differential impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities.
- The Council, stakeholders and partners need to consider how they can give guidance to people across communities to help recover from this pandemic.
- It is important to understand people’s circumstances e.g. their employment status; where they live; and personal health needs. Then to build a matrix of support for residents to keep them safe and to prepare to address any future recurrences.
- With regard to Safeguarding adults (i) there has been a higher than anticipated deaths of people with learning disabilities; and (ii) there is a need to look at some of the reasons for people have been reluctant to come forward for their health checks; (iii) the Black Asian Minority Ethnic communities higher levels of health need is also an issue that needs to be considered; (iv) how to shield those in this vulnerable category;
- It is recognised that there is an ongoing risk of further waves until an effective vaccine is available. Therefore, it is likely that until then a combination of current measures will continue to some extent depending on levels of Covid-19 in the population (social distancing, hygiene, test and trace, shielding); There remain important unknowns e.g. likelihood of reinfection, transmission of people with no symptoms. Hence, the challenge going forward is to work together to prevent infection, contain outbreaks, provide assurance to residents, and enable a level of normality to return to people’s lives.
- To prevent and manage any future coronavirus outbreaks that may occur in Tower Hamlets, it is important that there is effective testing and contact tracing will be critical to preventing and managing local outbreaks. Therefore, the Council and its partner agencies need to look at how they are supporting residents to get tested through the NHS Test and Trace programme e.g. Some of the more vulnerable and at-risk residents will continue to need support if self-isolating if there is any local outbreak, so engagement with these groups is vital.
- When lockdown restrictions start to lift, it is important that residents continue to follow government advice including keeping a safe distance from other people, practicing good hygiene and self-isolating if experiencing symptoms of coronavirus.
- The challenge now for the Council; its partners and stakeholders are to:
1. Continue to work together to prevent infection,
2. Contain any further outbreaks,
3. Provide assurance to residents; and
4. Enable a level of normality to return to people’s lives
Supporting documents: