Agenda item
Covid 19 Update
The Committee will received an update on COVID-19 from Dr Somen Banerjee – Director of Public Health
Minutes:
The Committee received an update from COVID-19 from Somen Banerjee – Director of Public Health, the main points of discussion on the presentation are outlined as follows:
The Committee noted that:
- The New Covid strain had been identified been in South East of England.
- In East London there has been a very rapid rises in the 13 to 17 age group.
- New Covid strain identified that may be responsible for 'faster spread' in South East.
- Regarding testing in schools in the Borough it has been necessary to make some very quick decisions in terms of the locations for the testing units.
- Whilst the Borough had seen high levels of Covid-19 in Bishop Challoners and George Green's testing is not limited just to those two schools and they are working with their neighbouring schools to enable testing of staff/pupils with a focus on the teaching staff and the 11 to 13 age group.
· The Borough is (i) promoting testing in schools more generally; and (ii) communicating the changes in advice around who can be tested.
· The message previously was that you only get tested if you have symptoms that has now changed in the context of rising levels of Covid-19 and in the recognition that if you think that you may have been exposed to Covid-19 you can get tested although not presenting with signs or symptoms of infection, illness, or disease (i.e. they are asymptomatic) but can pass on the virus on to a vulnerable person and therefore you are part of a chain that may lead to the death of another. Therefore, as the spread of public health misinformation through social media becomes more prevalent, it is important to develop an effective social media strategy to ensure that the people in Tower Hamlets have access to the correct information.
· It is especially important message to get across through social media; texts; sending out letters; and word of mouth utilising the Borough’s Team of Covid-19 Champions.
· Regarding the vaccination programme the Tower Hamlets GP Care Group has texted 3,200 residents about the programme and those who have not responded or not contactable via text or mobile phone are being written to.
· East One Health and Whitechapel Health Centre are apparently not yet participating in programme, but officers would contact Tracy Cannell - Chief Executive - Tower Hamlets GP Care Group to provide a response.
· The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises that the first priorities for any COVID-19 vaccination programme should be the prevention of COVID-19 mortality and the protection of health and social care staff and systems. Secondary priorities to include vaccination of those at increased risk of hospitalisation and at increased risk of exposure, and to maintain resilience in essential public services.
In conclusion, the Chair:
1. Thanked Somen Banerjee – Director of Public Health for his presentation and for the high level of detail that he had provided; and
2. Noted that they had considered (i) the Covid-19 and its impact on schools and young people; (ii) the importance of developing an effective social media strategy to ensure that the people in Tower Hamlets have access to the correct information; (iii) how to reach out to those not contactable via text or mobile phone; (iv) testing in schools in the Borough and that it had been necessary to make prompt decisions in terms of the locations of testing sites; and (v) the position of East One Health and Whitechapel Health Centre in regard to the vaccination programme.
3. Reminded the Committee that he had received the Mayor’s response to the Committee’s COVID Review and that the reviewed recommendations had been circulated to Members and any questions should be sent to him.
- Recommended this item come back to committee when the new programmes within this Directorate were running.
Supporting documents:
- OSC cover page - 14 Dec - COVID update presentation, item 7. PDF 119 KB
- OSC C-19 December 2020v2, item 7. PDF 510 KB