Agenda item

A verbal update is to be provided on the surveillance of the data and intelligence concerning COVID-19.

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 of a Covid-19 vaccine; and over 512,000 or 39% of the total eligible population receiving two doses; with eligibility recently opening up to over 23 year olds. 

·      the deep dive in Covid-19 vaccinations, triangulating data for the 7-day case rate, vaccination uptake for 40+ and Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) across Surrey’s Middle Layer Super Output Areas (MSOA); reviewed frequently to inform targeted action and support hotspots through communications.

·      the publicly available Surrey Covid-19 intelligence publications: infographic (short report) - updated Monday, Wednesday, Friday - and the Intelligence Summary (long report) - updated every Friday.

2. The Chairman noted the vaccination uptake in divisions across Spelthorne, making a plea for eligible residents to get their vaccine and noted that it would be good to hear what Board members could do to encourage residents to take up the vaccine. 
3. A Board member noted the highest case rates in Surrey Heath at 81.7 per 100,000 population and that the heatmap showed that it was predominantly amongst the younger population. He asked whether that was a relatively even spread across the Borough or whether it was from a few outbreaks in several educational establishments or other properties or premises linked with young people.

-       In response the Public Health Consultant (SCC) explained that the increase in cases in younger age groups across Surrey Heath was being driven by outbreaks in schools, with a few household clusters too - once notified of an outbreak immediate actions were put in place through the Department for Education, Public Health England, Public Health teams, as well as through local colleagues.

-       The Board member further asked for reassurance as to whether those figures were manageable and would decrease; in response the Public Health Consultant (SCC) noted the four day delay in the figures, explaining that insight from local intelligence through the local Surrey Contact Tracing Service and the national NHS Test and Trace service showed that outbreaks were being managed by the contact tracing of often the siblings and parents of individuals linked to an outbreak at one school.

-       The Board member further asked whether the household clusters were linked with school outbreaks and praised the high percentage of residents traced by the Surrey Contact Tracing Service; in response the Public Health Consultant (SCC) noted that household clusters could be connected with schools via surnames, noting that it was a mixture of links between household and school clusters.

4. The Vice-Chairman noted the particular challenges in Reigate and Banstead, thanking the Public Health team (SCC) and agencies across Surrey in dealing with the initial outbreak which was connected to one of Reigate and Banstead’s local schools. He provided reassurance of the success of the Surrey Contact Tracing Service which pinpointed the source of the outbreak.
5. The Vice-Chairman referring to the vaccination programme, noted that he was keen to make sure that Reigate and Banstead Borough Council was able to provide logistical support for encouraging the uptake of vaccinations, noting the re-offering of volunteers to knock on residents’ doors and to deliver any items - reducing the burden from health workers.
6. The Chairman welcomed the Vice-Chairman’s offer and would liaise with Spelthorne Borough Council, which would look to return such an offer.

RESOLVED:

The Board noted the verbal update and presentation.

Actions/further information to be provided:

1.    The Public Health team (SCC) will liaise with the Vice-Chairman concerning his offer of logistical support by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council through volunteers to encourage the uptake of vaccinations.

2.    The Chairman will liaise with Spelthorne Borough Council to look to return such an offer in relation to logistical support of the vaccination programme through volunteers.