The presentation will be shared at the meeting via Teams

Somen Banerjee, Director of Public Health provide an update on current situation and challenges to date related to outbreak control.  A summary of the discussions on the presentation is set out below:

The Board

• Noted that despite a fall over the summer, the number of cases of Covid-19 have risen and it is accepted that the situation is once again worsening. Tower Hamlets now has one of the highest levels of Covid-19 in London. Therefore, as a second rise in infections hits the Borough, all steps necessary must be taken to limit the spread of the virus and protect those most at risk.
• Noted that whilst confirmed cases are going down the GPs are seeing people coming into their practices with suspected cases continues to rise and the other thing that continues to rise is the calls to NHS 111 online coronavirus service which gives an indication that of an increase.  Although there is not a great deal of change in terms of hospital admissions and therefore not having an impacting on bed occupancy and those indicators
• Noted that Tower Hamlets has been in the top third in London in terms of incidents rates
• Noted that Public Health England provide data where there is a high risk of an outbreaks such as care homes; schools workplaces; hospitals and faith.
• Noted that whilst in Tower Hamlets there have been no significant outbreaks to date, there is evidence to show an increasing number of these situations in these settings.
• Noted that in Tower Hamlets the testing rates are low relative to the rest of London.  Therefore, it is a priority for the Borough and last week a local testing site was opened in Watney Market which is an appointment only and whilst it has only been only been open a few days 500 people have been tested.
• Noted that the National Programme of Test and Trace has been progressing and they are (i) seeing 80 percent of cases who have been identified as positive; (ii) 20 percent of people that they cannot contact.
• Noted in response to this Tower Hamlets is very close to implementing a local Test and Trace programme in which we get passed on the names of the 20 percent of cases that the national system was unable to identify and we have people locally who will contact those people and then pass the contacts back to the national system.
• Noted that we need to strengthen the Test and Trace System that residents have access to.
• Noted regarding those cases known to Tower Hamlets they are being track on a day-to-day basis.
• Noted the Borough gets very good data from the National Biosecurity Centre and good local data.
• Noted when the Second Wave started it was mainly in the younger age group but as it has progressed there have been more cases in older and more vulnerable groups. It was initially in the more affluent groups but now it is very clearly higher in the most deprived groups. It is also higher where there is high density social housing and for people who live in high-density social housing it was initially highest in the black populations but over the past few weeks it has been higher in the Bangladeshi population and then there are areas within the Borough in which we see higher levels e.g. some areas in the North West of the Borough and also in the North East
• Noted that in the national policy context there is a rise which means that the reproduction number (R) is the average number of secondary infections produced by a single infected person is on the increase.
• Agreed it was important that as nationally we starting to see cases start to rise in care homes both in residents and staff, we need to be prepared for that
• Recognised that the Council and its Partners/Stakeholders need to work together to ensure compliance with the guidance. Therefore, it is not just about enforcement it is about encouragement.
• Was advised that (i) there is additional capacity for Environmental Health around enforcement; and (ii) there is a review of Care Homes arrangements and making sure that these are robust as possible procedures around discharges from hospitals.
• Noted that Tower Hamlets are working with Department of Health and that there is a lot of investment around engagement across Tower Hamlets and identified that the networks that link our communities.  Also, Tower Hamlets are undertaking strengthening community outreach in those groups in which the networks more limited.
• Was advised that as cases of Covid-19 are increasing in the Borough, Tower Hamlets is calling on residents to sign up to become Covid-19 community champions to help everyone stay informed and in tune with the latest advice.  
• Noted that those residents who sign up to become champions are updated on a regular basis with advice and information on Covid-19. The Champions then share this with their families, friends and their wider communities and help them make sense of it.
• Noted that the Royal London Hospital has created space for 176 intensive care and high dependency beds. This facility now allows the Royal London to separate Covid and non-Covid patients so they can get the care that they need.
• Noted that Healthwatch research has illustrated that there has been a disproportionate impact on people with mental health issues in terms of their physical health as a result of Covid-19.
• Noted that NHS Covid-19 app asks users who have been near someone with a positive coronavirus test result to self-isolate for two weeks. It also allows users to check-in to public houses, restaurants or other venues by scanning a QR code on their phone. They will then get an alert telling them to self-isolated if other visitors at the same time are found to have been infected.