The Sub-Committee noted that the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) provides local authorities with financial support to reduce the spread of coronavirus through test, trace and contain activity. Accordingly, the Chair had invited Somen Banerjee, Director of Public Health in Tower Hamlets to set out the use of this fund in the context of the strategic aims of the Local Outbreak Management Plan and help the Sub-Committee explore the wider learning from the approaches that have been taken. The main points arising from consideration of the presentation may be summarised as follows:

The Sub-Committee:

v  Noted that LBTH is working on the assumption that the Government will ‘clawback’ the Coronavirus (Covid-19) emergency funding given to local government and that LBTH will need to allocate that funding received before the end of March 2022.

v  Noted that LBTH is also mindful (i) that there are "early signs" that Covid infection levels are increasing; (ii) whether there is going to be additional restrictions; and (iii) whether funding can be carried over.

v  Noted that LBTH have in this year has received £11m.

v  Noted that with the funding there has been a real focus on inequalities and have identified which communities have been particularly at risk so as to develop the outreach that has been commissioned and informed  investment in the Community Clinics (CC) and have seen a kind of reversal of inequality.

v  Requested that the outcome of this activity and good practice developed be shared with the committee.

v  Noted that the role of the Covid-19 community champions established to empower and support Tower Hamlets residents to stay up to date with the latest advice about Covid-19 is providing information about testing and rapid testing.

v  Noted LBTH has a real focus on vaccination as whilst over two-thirds of the Boroughs population have been vaccinated there is a challenge around (i) uptake of vaccination in the 12- to 15-year-olds; and (ii) the Booster Programme which is a major new program that LBTH needs to focus on given the Government’s announcement that they wanting to accelerate the booster and the 12- to 15-year-olds vaccination programmes because of the increase in the numbers of Covid cases.

v  Noted that the improvements around infection control measures in schools; care homes and workplaces which are really critically important for the control of all infectious diseases.

v  Noted that the vaccination programme for Covid will in the future be the same way as there is for influenza.

v  Noted that LBTH will continue to support communities addressing inequalities and the impacts of coronavirus which can cause symptoms that last weeks or months after the infection has gone e.g. post-Covid syndrome or "long Covid".

v  Noted that since April 2021 the Council “Call Centre” have had about 28,000 calls of which 90% are vaccine related (e.g. booking vaccines for residents).

v  Acknowledged that whilst the success of the vaccination rollout has paved the way for a gradual lifting of restrictions no vaccine is 100% effective and, like all viruses, Covid can mutate.

v  Noted that the Councils Call Centre has been able to develop very quickly pathway plans and these plans remain under review.

v  Noted that the Call Centre Team is continuously working proactively and with the partners and other services to ensure that it is keeping pace to ensure that the residents are getting the most up to date information (e.g. for test and trace and referrals on to other services).

v  Agreed that it wanted feedback on the development of this work to be reported to a future meeting.

v  Noted that specific expenditure has been transferred to the Call Centre to support specific activities e.g. the public helpline, the 3030 number: food support and the local test and trace.

In conclusion the Sub-Committee having noted and commented the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) RESOLVED that:

1. It wished to receive a further report to update on the use of COMF and the development of best practice.