Agenda item

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.

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 directly with their local businesses and high streets. He would look to pull together the updated information available and liaise with the Board member.

-       The Public Health Consultant (SCC) added that Environmental Health colleagues worked closely with businesses sharing any changes in national guidance as well as visiting them and supporting them to put in Covid-19 secure measures - ensuring joined up and consistent messaging.

4.    The Chairman welcomed the update and noted positive feedback from residents in Staines regarding the face-to-face engagement via ‘Street Teams’.

RESOLVED:

The Board noted the activity outlined in the report.

Actions/further information to be provided:

1.    The Communications team (SCC) will liaise with the Board member concerning updated or new communications toolkits for businesses.