Agenda and minutes
PDF 217 KBVenue: Remote - during Covid-19
Contact: Amelia Christopher Email: amelia.christopher@surreycc.gov.uk
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
To receive any apologies for absence. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Ruth Hutchinson.
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 18 FEBRUARY 2021
To agree the minutes of the previous meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes were agreed as a true record of the meeting.
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
All Members present are required to declare, at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter
(i) Any disclosable pecuniary interests and / or (ii) Other interests arising under the Code of Conduct in respect of any item(s) of business being considered at this meeting
NOTES:
· Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest · As well as an interest of the Member, this includes any interest, of which the Member is aware, that relates to the Member’s spouse or civil partner (or any person with whom the Member is living as a spouse or civil partner) · Members with a significant personal interest may participate in the discussion and vote on that matter unless that interest could be reasonably regarded as prejudicial. Additional documents: Minutes: There were none.
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QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
a Members' Questions
The deadline for Member’s questions is 12pm four working days before the meeting (9 April 2021).
b Public Questions
The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (8 April 2021).
c Petitions
The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting. No petitions have been received. Additional documents: Minutes: a MEMBERS' QUESTIONS [Item 4a] None received. b PUBLIC QUESTIONS [Item 4b]
None received. c PETITIONS [Item 4c] There were none.
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COVID-19 SURVEILLANCE UPDATE
A verbal update is to be provided on the surveillance of the data and intelligence concerning COVID-19.
Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses:
Dr Naheed Rana - Public Health Consultant (SCC) Key points raised in the discussion:
1. The Public Health Consultant (SCC) noted: · that daily the triggers and escalations concerning the number of cases were reviewed and intelligence concerning infection rates and vaccinations was triangulated in order to understand the direction of travel. · that the latest reporting figures for Surrey for the fourteen-day period between 29 March - 11 April 2021 was 28.8 cases per 100,000 population and the seven-day period between 5 - 11 April was 12.1 cases per 100,000 population. · that the fourteen-day period provided a more stable view of infection rates and to be mindful of the reporting delays for the most recent four days. · that over the fourteen-day period Surrey’s infection rate was lower than both England and the South East, and over the most recent seven-day period Woking had the highest case rate in Surrey of 23.8 per 100,000 and Elmbridge had the lowest case rate of 6.6 per 100,000 population. · the fluctuation in the epi curve over the three lockdowns, highlighting the first lockdown in March 2020 and the most recent reopening of schools on 8 March 2021 and non-essential retail opening on 12 April 2021. · the importance of continuing to track cases in relation to the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown with the total number of cases in Surrey as at 12 April 2021 was 69,848 since the beginning of the pandemic and the latest case rate was 46.8 per 100,000 population. · the case rate heatmap for Surrey from March 18 - 8 April 2021 by age group was dominated by lighter colours due to lower cases as a result of the January lockdown, partnership effort and compliance of residents. · the case rate heatmaps by districts and boroughs from 16 March - 12 April 2021 showed darker areas reflecting high infection rates in age groups following the reopening of schools, later moving to lighter colours. · the weekly case rates for Surrey and surrounding areas in the South East from 12 March - 8 April 2021 with the most recent heatmap dominated by lighter colours 0-24.9 per 100,000 population. · the triangulation work in which greater data and intelligence was being received in terms of case rates and vaccine uptake broken down by age, Index of Multiple Deprivation deciles at Middle Super Output Area (MSOA); which were used to tackle areas of concern. · the bi-weekly Covid-19 intelligence summary and the daily dashboard of Surrey Covid-19 cases - including vaccination data - were both being published weekly beginning 1 April 2021 due to smaller fluctuations in case rates.
Dr Charlotte Canniff joined the meeting at 2.13 pm
2. The Chairman welcomed the comprehensive presentation and the graphics which showed Surrey’s journey through the pandemic. 3. A Board member commended the surge testing for the South African variant in Surrey which was under control but noted the rise in cases in South West London such as Wandsworth, querying the current situation in Surrey in relation to that variant ... view the full minutes text for item 13/21 |
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COVID-19 COMMUNICATIONS PLAN UPDATE
A communications and engagement strategy has been developed to support the Surrey Local Outbreak Control Plan. The Communications Plan has evolved as more has been learnt about our public health response to the virus and this report provides the latest update on communications activity including Operation Eagle.
Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses:
Michael Stringer - External & Stakeholder Communications Manager (SCC) Dr Naheed Rana - Public Health Consultant (SCC) Dr Rachel Gill - Public Health Consultant (SCC)
Key points raised in the discussion:
1. The External & Stakeholder Communications Manager (SCC) noted: · that since the last Board the focus had been upon the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown through Surrey’s ‘Working together to get there’ overarching campaign which focussed on shared responsibility, encouragement and motivation. · key areas included: explaining the roadmap using behavioural insights from the Cabinet Office ensuring residents followed the guidelines, ensuring consistent public health messaging around ‘Hands. Face. Space. Fresh Air’ and providing information regarding testing and vaccinations. · that to promote the campaign a variety of channels were being used such as messaging via outdoor assets primarily over the Easter weekend as more residents were out and about and through an online presence including tailored faith messaging on Ramadan and Passover. · that the Covid-19 public data dashboard had moved from daily to weekly and vaccination numbers were included; and positive responses to those dashboards shared on social media had been received. · that targeted community engagement was an area of focus through tailored messaging for specific audiences including: younger cohorts through the ‘#IDidItFor’ vaccination campaign, a Peer-to-peer youth engagement platform ‘Soon Surrey’ and a TikTok style video on asymptomatic testing for schools; hard to reach groups in line with the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion agenda and high prevalence areas through face-to-face engagement via ‘Street Teams’ in Staines and Woking. · that the Multi-Agency Information Group (MIG) would remain in place to coordinate the messaging throughout lockdown easing with the view to carry on that joint working through the Surrey Communications Group; and key areas of focus would be mental health through the ‘Face of Support’ campaign and long term recovery understanding the impact of Covid-19 on the local economy and Covid-19 as business as usual. 2. A Board Member noted the possibility raised by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom that Covid-19 cases would increase over the next few weeks and months due to the easing of lockdown and new variants, asking whether there were contingency plans ready for promoting a fourth lockdown to residents. - In response, the External & Stakeholder Communications Manager (SCC) noted that the Communications team (SCC) would continue with partnership working with the ability to step back up lockdown campaigns if needed. - The Public Health Consultant (SCC) added that the Public Health team (SCC) through surveillance and intelligence had created situational models in respect of future scenarios. 3. A Board member noted that until the start of the year Surrey Chambers of Commerce had received communications toolkits which they shared with businesses and asked whether there would be new toolkits available particularly as more people started to return to work. - In response, the External & Stakeholder Communications Manager (SCC) noted that the matter had been a recent focus of the MIG, which found that many of the District and Borough Councils had been working ... view the full minutes text for item 14/21 |
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COVID-19 LOCAL OUTBREAK CONTROL PLAN UPDATE
The report details progress on Surrey’s Local Outbreak Control Plan including key outcomes and milestones to date, challenges and next steps going forward.
Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses:
Dr Rachel Gill - Public Health Consultant (SCC) Caroline Chapman - Senior Public Health Contact Tracing Lead (SCC) Jack Healy - Public Health Lead (SCC) Michael Stringer - External & Stakeholder Communications Manager (SCC) Dr Charlotte Keeble - COVID 19 Vaccination Programme Director, Surrey Heartlands ICS Dr Naheed Rana - Public Health Consultant (SCC) Helena O’Neill -
Programme Manager - Community Champions (COVID-19) (SCC) Mrs Sinead Mooney - LOEB Chairman; Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Domestic Abuse (SCC) Mrs Mary Lewis - Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families (SCC)
Key points raised in the discussion: 1. The Public Health Consultant (SCC) provided an update on the national context noting: · That two key guidance documents had been published by the Government, the first being the ‘Covid-19 Response - Spring 2021’ in February setting out the roadmap out lockdown in England based on four steps spaced five weeks apart with indicative dates: Step 1: 8 and 29 March, Step 2: 12 April, Step 3: 17 May, Step 4: 21 June. · Progression through the four steps for the easing of restrictions was based on the below tests: - The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully - Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated. - Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS. - Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern. · The second guidance document was the ‘COVID-19 contain framework: a guide for local decision-makers’ which was updated in March and set out how local system partners should continue to work together responding to Covid-19. 2. The Public Health Consultant (SCC) explained that the updated Surrey Local Outbreak Control Plan (LOCP) had been republished on Surrey County Council’s website to reflect the changes in national guidance. The LOCP had been submitted to the Department of Health and Social Care on 30 March and feedback was awaited. As part of the assurance process there would be a planned peer review with Buckinghamshire Council and East Sussex County Council.
David Munro left the meeting at 2.38 pm
3. The Chairman welcomed the peer review and queried why Buckinghamshire Council and East Sussex County Council were being consulted, whether it was a national recommendation or local initiative, and what the outcomes might be. - In response, the Public Health Consultant (SCC) noted that the peer review process was encouraged nationally. The three local authorities had been working together since the initial LOCP was published and valued the process to ensure plans were robust and that there was a joined-up approach across the South East. - The Chairman asked for the Board to be updated on the feedback from the peer review process. 4. The Senior Public Health Contact Tracing Lead (SCC) provided an update on local contact tracing noting: · the hot spot pilot ... view the full minutes text for item 15/21 |
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Surrey Local Outbreak Engagement Board will take place on 17 June 2021. Additional documents: Minutes: It was agreed that the next meeting of the Surrey Local Outbreak Engagement Board would take place on 17 June 2021.
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