Councillors and committees

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Remote

Contact: Amelia Christopher  Email: amelia.christopher@surreycc.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

17/21

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

    To receive any apologies for absence.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Apologies were received from Joanna Killian and Annie Righton.

     

18/21

INFORMAL PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

    The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (10 June 2021).

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    None received.

     

19/21

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:

    ·      how the Public Health team (SCC) monitored the intelligence and surveillance of Covid-19 cases daily through epidemiology and the situational report, as well as the triggers and escalations - cases per 100,000 population, trends, outbreaks, exceedance reports and triangulation with vaccination data to ensure that appropriate actions were taken immediately and in conjunction with Surrey’s system partners.

    ·      an overview of Covid-19 cases in Surrey up to 8 June 2021 shown via the epi curve over the three lockdowns as well as the three Steps in the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown; with a total of 71,961 positive cases and there were 666 new positive cases between 2-8 June 2021.

    ·      the slight increase in rates post the easing of Step 3 of the roadmap on 17 May 2021.

    ·      Surrey’s cases and rates per 100,000 population over the most recent 14-day period 31 May-13 June 2021 and 7-day period 7-13 June 2021 as a county, by Borough and District, and compared with the South East and England.

    ·      that Surrey Heath had the highest 7-day rate in Surrey at 81.7 per 100,000, which was higher than Surrey, the South East and England. Followed by Reigate and Banstead’s 7-day rate of 72.6 per 100,000 population, which was higher than Surrey and the South East.

    ·      that Waverley had the lowest 7-day rate in Surrey at 28.5 per 100,000 population, followed by Tandridge’s 7-day rate of 39.7 per 100,000 population. Which were both lower than Surrey, the South East and England.

    ·      the ranking of the 7-day case rate for Surrey’s Districts and Boroughs compared with other lower-tier local authorities in England, notably Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton with high rates. 

    ·      the Surrey Covid-19 summary of cases and rates over a 7-day period through the infographic currently published on Monday, Wednesday, Friday with trend information compared to the previous week, the 7-day average of cases was also tracked.

    ·      the case rate heatmap for Surrey between 18 May-14 June 2021 across age groups ranging from 0-4 to 80+, highlighting the increasing dark areas of greater cases between the age groups of 11-16 up to 19-24; compared to the lighter areas and lower cases in the over 60s - demonstrating the positive vaccination programme.

    ·      the case rate heatmap by local authority for Surrey between 18 May-14 June 2021, highlighting the recent changes across the age groups in Reigate and Banstead.

    ·      the Surrey and surrounding areas - South East - weekly case rate heatmap per 100,000 population by local authority from 30 April-6 May 2021 with the case rate predominantly at 0-24.9 per 100,000, slowly darkening to 4-10 June 2021 with the case rate predominantly at 25-49.9 per 100,000, with areas at 50-99.9 per 100,000 population.

    ·      the vaccination roll-out programme in Surrey whereby in total over 756,000 people or 58% of the total eligible population - 1% above the South East - had received at least one dose  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19/21

20/21

COVID-19 COMMUNICATIONS PLAN UPDATE pdf icon PDF 309 KB

    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.

     

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Witnesses:

     

    Abi Pope - Senior Communications Manager, COVID-19 Communications Lead (SCC)

     

    Key points raised in the discussion:

    1.    The Senior Communications Manager, COVID-19 Communications Lead (SCC) noted:

    ·         the surge testing operation in Reigate and Banstead, the press release was scheduled for 3pm:

    -       due to begin on Friday due to the high rates in two areas:

    -       Area one - Banstead, Walton-on-the-hill and Tattenham corner

    -       Area two - Reigate town centre

    -       the communications cascade with the Board informed first.

    -       the experience gained from previous surge testing operations in Surrey.

    -       it was important for residents that they had a good understanding of whether or not they lived, worked or went to school within the boundaries of the surge testing area - an interactive map had been produced.

    -       the web content and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document had been prepared and was sent to GPs, before being published online across the Surrey County Council and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council websites.

    -       the Communications team (SCC) was well experienced in doing highly targeted social media, alongside the press release geo-targeted communications would go out via Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Nextdoor - the Snapchat posts could be targeted to the younger age groups.

    -       the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) would be issuing their press release, as well as offering support for business and community stakeholder engagement in the area.

    -       two digital ad vans would be diverted to the Reigate and Banstead surge testing areas from Friday.

    -       the assets and infographics being used reverted to alert messaging through chevrons and the bright colours.

    ·         the continued close working between the Public Health team (SCC) and Communications team (SCC), noting the data meetings which occurred three times a week and the awareness of rising rates in Surrey and Variants of Concern (VOC):

    -     digital ad vans from Monday would drive around the areas with the highest rates in Surrey, focusing the assets on the testing and vaccinations.

    -     an extraordinary Multi-Agency Information Group (MIG) was held last Thursday so that partners in Surrey could be alerted to the rising rates, with a toolkit with new graphics provided.

    -     vinyl banners were being developed to go into popular spots particularly congregated by young people.

    -     a leaflet on testing and vaccinations had been developed.

    -     information was included in the GP bulletins last week to inform them of rising cases.

    -     the RingGo parkingapp was being investigated to include push notifications and a text to anyone who was registered with the app in Surrey.

    -     the focus on younger age groups as the rates were higher, ensuring targeted messaging.

     

     

     

    ·         Youth engagement:

    -     through a company called Livity who ran focus groups to gain insights into how young people in Surrey were feeling about the lockdowns and what would motivate them to follow the rules.

    -     findings from the focus groups included the feeling of being scapegoated by the media and underrepresented in the Covid-19 communications; and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20/21

21/21

COVID-19 LOCAL OUTBREAK CONTROL PLAN UPDATE AND UPDATED TERMS OF REFERENCE pdf icon PDF 753 KB

    The report details progress on Surrey’s Local Outbreak Control Plan including key outcomes and milestones to date, challenges and next steps going forward.

     

    The Board’s updated Terms of Reference are also provided.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Witnesses:

     

    Ruth Hutchinson - Director of Public Health (SCC)

    Caroline Chapman - Senior Public Health Contact Tracing Lead (SCC)

    Jack Healy - Public Health Lead (SCC)

    Gail Hughes - Public Health Lead, Programme Manager – COVID-19 (SCC)

    Gavin Stephens - Chief Constable of Surrey Police

    Sinead Mooney - LOEB Chairman; Cabinet Member for Adults (SCC)

    Rebecca (Bex) Pritchard - Chief Executive Officer of Surrey Care Association

    Clare Curran - Cabinet Member for Children and Families (SCC)

     

    Key points raised in the discussion:

     

    1.      The Chairman referred to the updated Terms of Reference, noting the additions to the Board membership going forward of the proposed Cabinet Member for Health (SCC) and the Chief Executive Officer of Surrey Care Association.

    2.      The Director of Public Health (SCC) introduced the report and provided updates on:

    ·         The National Easing of Restrictions in England:

    -       noted the delayed move to Step 4 of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown to 19 July 2021.

    -       on 21 June 2021 Step 3 restrictions would remain apart from rules in relation to wedding and civil partnership ceremonies, and celebrations, funerals and commemorative events following a death, care home visits and domestic residential visits for children.

    -       providers of those services were being supported in those settings with regards to those changes.

    ·         Local Outbreak Control Plan:

    -       which had been republished recently and met the national accessibility requirements.

    -       a Sector Led Improvement peer review had been undertaken with Buckinghamshire and East Sussex, with a productive session on 19 May followed by the final report after key amendments were made in light of feedback, such as greater transparency around testing for high risk groups and the inclusion of coincidence and common exposure reports - the peer review was circulated to the Board on 28 May.

    -       in response to the Chairman’s comment requesting an update on an outstanding action from April's Board around the outcome of the Sector Led Improvement peer review, the Director of Public Health (SCC) reiterated the point above and asked that the peer review be re-circulated to the Board members.

    ·           Variants of Concern (VOC) (national):

    -       that the Delta variant had recently become the dominant variant in the United Kingdom; it was estimated to be between 40 and 80% more transmissible than the Alpha variant driving the rapid increase in case numbers.

    -       early data demonstrated a slight increase in the risk of hospitalisation, but the evidence continued to emerge - that increase was not yet seen in Surrey - and because of the vaccination programme most cases were in young people, which did not always manifest itself in hospitalisations; however it impacted primary care, education and the economy.

    -       information on VOC and Variants Under Investigation (VUI) was published in the weekly coronavirus full summary report.

    -       that the surge testing due to begin on Friday in Reigate and Banstead was as a result of a request as Surrey was highlighted as a possible Enhanced Response Area (ERA), having received the Enhanced Support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21/21

22/21

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

    The next meeting of the Surrey Local Outbreak Engagement Board will take place on 2 September 2021.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    The date of the meeting was noted as 2 September 2021.