Report of the Director of Public Health

In July the Committee received the Manchester Local Prevention and Response (Outbreak) Plan and has received regular updates on the 10 Point Plan and more recently the 12 Point Plan which relate to the overarching document. 

The attached Plan now incorporates two major additional programmes of work relating to Targeted Testing at Scale and the Mass Vaccination Programme.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Public Health that described that in October the Committee had received the latest version of the Manchester 12 Point COVID-19 Action Plan. This report and accompanying presentation provided a brief update on some aspects of the Plan, including Targeted Testing at Scale and the Manchester Mass Vaccination Programme,

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         Welcoming the reported improvements in infection rates, however the need to be mindful that infection rates were still high and COVID-19  remained a threat;

·         The public needed to continue to observe Public Health advice and guidance to reduce the risk of infection;

·         How many critical care hospital beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients;

·         Were there concerns regarding the potential impact on infection rates in the New Year following the relaxation of restrictions over the Christmas period;

·         What work was being done with the student population to avoid a spike in cases when students return to Manchester in January;

·         Welcoming the introduction of mass testing and what was the anticipated timescales; and

·         Noting that communities often crossed borders within Greater Manchester as assurance was sought that all residents would be offered a vaccine. 

The Director of Public Health reiterated the message that all residents needed to consider their personal risk when considering their options during the Christmas period. He said it reminded essential that everyone continued to observe the Public Health messages to mitigate the risk of further infections.

In response to the specific question regarding students, the Director of Public Health stated that the local Public Health team continued to work closely with the local Universities and they continued to make representations to Government to ensure students were tested prior to their return to Manchester to prevent another outbreak, similar to that what was experienced in October. He said that this was important as the focus and priority in the new year should be to focus resources on the roll out of the vaccination. He said that despite this the testing sites at the Universities would be retained and Universities would continue to be supported to digest national guidance and formulate plans and strategies that could be clearly communicated.

The Director of Public Health stated that at the time of reporting the number of critical care hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients was 46 and that he would circulate further data on this following the meeting.

Regarding vaccination, the Director of Public Health stated that priority groups would be vaccinated by Easter 2021, with the remaining adult population vaccinated by summer 2021. He described that all of the Greater Manchester authorities would work together to progress this programme in line with national guidance to ensure a consistent delivery.

The Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing stated that the decline in the infection rate was as a result of the determination and sacrifice of the residents of Manchester. She expressed that caution was required over Christmas to avoid a further spike in cases in the New Year and that communications and messaging regarding household mixing over Chrisman needed to be explicit and unambiguous.

The Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing paid tribute to the Public Health Team and the Universities for responding to the outbreaks within the student population in the absence of national guidance.

Decision

The Committee notes the report.