[To receive an update on the current COVID-19 situation.]
Minutes:
The Chair moved to take items 6 and 7 together.
Dr Ainee Khan, Consultant in Public Health delivered the COVID-19 Situation Update with supporting presentation. In terms of daily cases, a graph illustrated that Wolverhampton was currently seeing a low number of cases, with no sign of a resurgence yet despite lifting of some restrictions.
It was reported that rates were currently highest amongst young people and working age adults.
It was noted that Wolverhampton case rates currently ranked among the lowest in the West Midlands and numbers by geographical area were very small.
In terms of hospital admissions, numbers of inpatients remain in single figures, which was encouraging. Vaccination uptake was slightly below England average, but still at high levels in eligible age groups. It was noted that over 60% of the adult population of the City had received at least one dose.
John Denley, Director of Public Health provided an update on the current variant of concern (VOC) with supporting presentation. The presentation defined a VOC as when the changes to a mutated virus or variant had a clinical or public health significance based on three key indicators:
It was outlined that a response to a new VOC was typically modelled on the response to the South African Variant of COVID-19 (known as Operation Eagle) and the learning gained from this.
The Wolverhampton Local Outbreak Control Plan had adopted this framework which involved the use of ‘Surge’ or large-scale lateral flow or PCR testing, identifying cases and tracing/isolating contacts.
It was reported that Wolverhampton currently had a low COVID-19 infection rate of 11.4 per 100,000. It had been identified that the new variant was circulating within the community and it was anticipated that it would likely be the dominant variant in the area, region and country over the next few weeks.
It appeared to be more transmissible, although there were no early indicators that it was having an impact on hospital admissions and deaths and there was confidence that the current vaccines provided a good level of protection, particularly after both doses had been administered. It had been reported that many of the people more severely affected by the new variant had not yet been vaccinated.
A calm, considered and cautious approach had been adopted and it was recommended that the response would be to accelerate vaccine delivery, increase testing and surveillance and enhance contact tracing and support. A summary of key actions to be undertaken to support this approach was provided.
In response to a query around what the key message for the population would be, it was agreed that foremost was to encourage people to attend for a vaccine when called as vaccination was currently the best defence. The message was to urge people to think of their family and friends when considering their options.
Furthermore, it was noted that Coronavirus was unlikely to be removed entirely, at least in the short term, and that it would be a virus with which the general population had to coexist for some time.
It was acknowledged that life could still continue to a high standard with an awareness that variants may occasionally emerge that required a response or extra caution.
Resolved: