Presentation by Director of Public Health
Minutes:
The Public Health Principal gave a presentation updating Members on the Covid-19 situation in Darlington.
In introducing the presentation, the Director of Public Health summarised the position from the previous meeting of this Scrutiny Committee; advised members that a successful community testing programme was now in place; the NHS England Mass Vaccination centre opened at the Darlington Arena on 1 March, with the capacity to deliver 200-300 vaccinations per day; and that the Feethams House Vaccination Centre continued to deliver vaccinations.
It was reported that there were four tests applied at a national level, that must be met for England to progress through the stages of the Governments road map out of lockdown; these were Test 1 - The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully; Test 2 - Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated; Test 3 - Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS; and Test 4 - Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.
Members noted that as of 28 February 2021, 32,214 Darlington residents had received their vaccine; 94 per cent of 70 year olds had received their first dose; and nine out of ten care residents had received their first dose.
It was reported that the bed occupancy rate for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust had, since mid-January, started to decline; that ICU bed occupancy rates had also started to decline; and the rates of cases in those aged 60 and over were decreasing and levelling out.
Members were advised of the figures for variants of concern, noting that the number of cases in the UK were very low; there was no evidence to suggest the variants were more deadly or more transmissible; and that 100 per cent of all positive cases that were genotyped showed the Kent variant to be present.
Details were provided on the figures for PCR and lateral flow testing in Darlington; the Department for Health and Social Care plans for test expansion; the four stages of the Road Map were outlined; and reference was made to the Stay at Home Campaign which would continue throughout all stages of the Road Map.
Discussion ensued on the vaccination of housebound residents and the actions taken to improve the uptake of vaccinations by ethnic communities. Members questioned the accuracy of the lateral flow tests and highlighted the need for improved messaging in relation to the vaccination process, particularly for hearing and site impaired residents.
RESOLVED – That the Public Health Principal and Director of Public Health be thanked for their update on Covid-19 in Darlington.
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