The report of the Director of Public Health and the Medical Director, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning is enclosed.

The Director of Public Health and the Medical Director, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning submitted a report presenting an update on Covid 19 and details of the 12 Point Plan.

Following on from Manchester’s designation as an ‘enhanced response area’ that ended on 26 July 2021, Manchester has continued to implement the

local enhanced response area action plan throughout August. The Board was informed that it is likely that Manchester and other areas with enduring higher transmission rates will be invited to be part of a longer-term national programme up to April 2022. In anticipation of this the Manchester COVID-19 12 Point Plan has been refreshed and a copy was submitted.

The Director of Public Health provided an update on the 12 Point Plan with the latest data, local and national infection rates, current intelligence and the update on the Citywide Vaccination Programme including the Winter Phase 3 Plans.

The Twelve Point Action Plan will focus on the following aims:

1.         Support early years, schools and collegesto remain open and operate as safely as possible, using effective infection control measures, testing, management of outbreaks and vaccination where appropriate. Ensure universities and other higher education settings remain open and operate as safely as possible using effective infection control measures, testing, management of outbreaks in campuses and student accommodation and vaccination where appropriate.

2.         Protect the city’s most vulnerable residents by reducing and minimising outbreaks in care homes and other high risk residential settings, including prisons.

3.         Support workplaces and businesses to operate as safely as possible, using compliance measures and enforcement powers where necessary. Support work to keep our border safe at Manchester Airport.

4.         Facilitate the recovery of the city by supporting the shift from regulatory to voluntary guidance for events, leisure and religious celebrations.

5.         Ensure the needs of people and communities that are high risk, clinically vulnerable or marginalised are prioritised and addressed within the broader COVID response.

6.         Co-ordinate communications activity to enable Manchester residents to live safely with COVID and make informed decisions, including around vaccination.

7.         Deliver targeted community engagement that supports wider aims and objectives, ensuring that appropriate and culturally sensitive approaches are taken.

8.         Ensure that decisions in respect of the direct response to COVID-19 and the wider recovery programme are informed consistently by high quality data and intelligence.

9.         Continue to deliver the community testing model, with a focus on testing becoming part of ‘living with COVID’ and on underrepresented and disproportionately impacted Groups.

10.       Identify local cases of COVID early and provide a rapid response though effective contact tracing and outbreak management.

11.       Ensure residents comply with any legal instruction to self-isolate and have the support to enable them to do so.

12.       Work with the NHS locally to drive up vaccination rates among those groups with lower uptake, ensure second vaccinations are administered and support the roll out of booster vaccinations.

Reference was made to arrangements for the return of schools and university students and the contingency plans in place to address increases in infection and the offer of PCR testing to students to help prevent the need for isolation. Work would be ongoing at Manchester Airport with the Border Force for safety checking and quarantine arrangements. Thanks were given for the response from Manchester to help with the Afghan resettlement programme.

The work on events and planning in Manchester, in particular the Manchester Pride festival, had provided important data on the vaccination status of the 40,000 attendees at the event. The rates would be monitored, however the analysis so far had indicated the event to have been well managed.

The Director of Public reported that it was anticipated that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) would make a decision on the vaccination of 12-16 year-olds and a booster programme in the near future. A plan would be required for close working with the Local Care Organisation and school nurses. It was reported that this would be a continuing challenge to meet demand with the resources available. It was yet not clear where the priority would be on based levels of vulnerability, age group or frontline worker cohorts. It was reported that once a decision on priority groups is made it will inform the winter planning process.

The Chair invited questions and comments from Members of the Board.

Dr Bromley welcomed the presentation and noted that a lot of work is being undertaken across the city in preparation for the reopening of schools throughout the summer period. Reference was made to the physical and mental wellbeing of colleagues across all sectors as work on the recovery of the city progresses and importance to be mindful of individuals health.

Helen Ibbot thanked the Director Public Health for the framework the report provided and gave an outline of the work of the LCO moving forward. The board was informed that the LCO would concentrate on work within community services /voluntary sector to engage with communities. The guidance on the 12-16 year old age group was yet to be received, although it was recognised that work was required on the a short term response on immunisation. The importance of the continued work within care homes was also highlighted.

The Chair referred to media reports on the Delta Variant within India that suggested the infection rates of the variant had started to recede and asked the Director of Public Health to respond.

The Director of Public Health reported that there was a view that the Delta Variant may have started the recede in some countries and areas, but the Delta Variant had continued to be prevalent in others. The pandemic was not ending and modelling scenarios were being produced in preparation for the winter period.

The Chair referred to the return of students to the city and the approach being taken to provide a second vaccination to those who have received a first dose.

The meeting was informed that the vaccination would be made available across the city at various locations including pop up clinics and this would be actively promoted towards students.

Dr Jeffrey referred to the level of infection across Greater Manchester and asked if there was belief that there may be a degree of herd immunity taking place.

The Director of Public Health reported that the levels of infection in areas such as Bolton and Blackburn had indicated a levelling out, however it would be difficult to state with a level accuracy on there being herd immunity within sections of the population. This would be an issue for the Chief Medical Officer to provide a statement on.

The Chair commented on the movement of the covid infection across the city which now appeared be not be located in a middle band of wards across the centre of the city and is now moving in all areas. Reference was also made to contain and recover phase and the move towards the process of normalisation, although it was not clear yet how long this may take. With reference to the infection rates in school pupil and teenagers, it is noted that although teenager infection rates had reduced it is still the highest rate in the city and this may be due to socialisation during the summer which could be repeated following a return to study during the autumn.

The Chair referred to the work of the Manchester partnership agencies for the reception provided for the arrival of Afghan asylum at Manchester Airport. The Chair thanked those involved for their work during this time to provide help and support to those people arriving in the UK under very difficult circumstances. The City of Manchester would work provide permanent accommodation to some of the families after a temporary period of quarantine and placement. The point was made that a large proportion of the Afghans speak English and have high levels of skills that will help them to work and contribute to society, once the Government has put arrangements in place. 

Decisions

1. The Board endorsed the refreshed 12 Point Plan.

2. The Board noted the presentation.