Agenda and minutes

Outbreak Control Engagement Board
Tuesday, 25th August, 2020 10.30 am

Venue: Remote - To be held remotely via Zoom - https://www.youtube.com/user/NottCityCouncil. View directions

Contact: Jane Garrard  Senior Governance Officer

Items
No. Item

32.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

None.

33.

Declarations of interests for agenda items 3-6

Minutes:

None.

34.

Public minutes pdf icon PDF 231 KB

To confirm the minutes of the public section of the meeting held on 12 August 2020

Minutes:

The Board approved the minutes of the public section of the meeting held on 12 August 2020 as an accurate record.

35.

Nottingham's Outbreak Control Plan Update

Minutes:

As part of an update on Nottingham’s Outbreak Control Plan, Alison Challenger, Director of Public Health, gave a presentation on the situation between 10 and 16 August 2020, highlighting the following information:

a)  Indicators suggest a small increase in COVID-19 at a national level with 6,418 new cases in the most recent week, compared to 5,763 cases in the preceding week. Rates vary between regions with highest incidence levels in Oldham, followed by Blackburn (with Darwen)

b)  The number of hospitalisations and deaths continues to decline.

c)  Within the East Midlands Northamptonshire is classified as an Area of Intervention largely due to an outbreak at the Greencore Factory. Newark remains an Area of Concern but the situation there has not escalated. Nottingham is not on the government’s watchlist.

d)  In Nottingham rates have increased slightly with 32 new cases identified in the last week giving a rate of 9.7 cases per 100,000 population which is comparatively low. There have been no deaths for the last five weeks.

e)  The majority of cases are now being found amongst working age people but older people tend to be more symptomatic.

f)  At a Middle Super Output Area level (representing roughly 5000-6000 population)  the highest levels for the whole pandemic have been seen in Bilborough and Clifton. This may have been due to the large number of care homes in these areas.

g)  Between 28 May to 12 August 234 people in Nottingham City have been transferred to the contact tracing system. 73% (171) of these were successfully reached, 551 (non-complex) close contacts were identified of which 49% (269) were successfully reached.

During the subsequent discussion the following points were raised:

h)  There is concern locally and nationally about the return of students to university as well as about the return of children to schools. There are local Task and Finish Groups for each of these settings and detailed plans are in place which consider all aspects of university life. Universities will operate very differently and more detail can be brought back to a future meeting. There will be no restriction of movement other than those imposed by any local lockdowns that are in place but there will be strict rules as to how students can behave and interact on and off campus.

i)  Regarding schools, adult to adult transmission is far more likely than child to adult and or child to child. Each school has a plan for managing this which include measures such as staggered entry and social distancing. Schools will be communicating this with parents. Ongoing support is available to Headteachers with this.

j)  Material is available in languages other than English and information is also available in easy read and British Sign Language and for those not on social media.

k)  The situation in care homes is significantly improved and though there have been some cases these have been tightly managed. Daily meetings are held to analyse the data and identify any potential outbreaks early.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

36.

Business compliance visits

Minutes:

Paul Dales, Food and Health and Safety Manager, Nottingham City Council, introduced the item covering the following issues:

a)  Following concerns that some close contact services might not have adequate safety measures in place Covid-Secure Compliance Checks commenced on 17 August. 72 hairdressers and barbers were visited in the initial round. The majority are doing well but recommendations were made to some businesses and some will be revisited. Enforcement action will be taken as a last resort.

b)  Visits to licensed premises start today with over 200 visits planned for the next 6 days. Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Community Protection are all involved in this work.

c)  The visits aim to support and advise businesses and spread good practice and it appears that the vast majority of businesses want support to ensure they are as compliant as possible.

d)  Online systems allowing the public to report any concerns they have are being tested in time for the bank holiday weekend. Any issues raised will be sent to an on duty Community Protection Officer.

e)  Often calls anti-social behavior concerns such as noisy parties are reported and when investigated, breaches of Covid regulations are found.

During the subsequent discussion the following points were made:

f)  Colleagues were thanked for the rapid work in introducing the reporting arrangements for citizens and the compliance visits.

g)  Police colleagues support actions as much as possible and new legislation with increased powers for tackling, for example, unlicensed music events, has been introduced.

h)  Citizens can report antisocial behaviour via the 101 phone number. Anti-social behaviour reports have increased and calls are passed on and attended by Police if necessary.

37.

Exclusion of public to move into confidential section of the meeting

Minutes:

The Board agreed to move into the confidential section of the meeting.

38.

Declarations of interests for agenda items 8-14

Minutes:

See Exempt Minutes

39.

Confidential minutes

To confirm the minutes of the confidential section of the meeting held on 12 August 2020

Minutes:

See Exempt Minutes

40.

Matters arising and previous actions

Minutes:

See Exempt Minutes

 

41.

Situational round-up

Minutes:

See Exempt Minutes

 

42.

Local Outbreak Control Exercise 27 July 2020

Minutes:

See Exempt Minutes

 

43.

Engagement with local businesses

Minutes:

See Exempt Minutes

 

44.

NHS Test and Trace

Minutes:

See Exempt Minutes

 

45.

Health Protection Board - minutes of the previous meeting

Minutes:

See Exempt Minutes

 

46.

Any other business

Minutes:

See Exempt Minutes