Issue - meetings

The Senior Specialist Public Health gave a presentation on the current COVID-19 situation and the Council’s response.  She reminded the meeting that the Government’s Living with COVID plan had been introduced on 1 April and the changes in testing arrangements meant it was no longer possible to report community rates of infection.  The Senior Specialist Public Health advised the Committee that the Office for National Statistics did estimate the percentage of the population with COVID at a national and regional level, and that these estimated rates were reducing. 

The Committee was informed that Covid testing was still available to a number of different groups: NHS patients in hospital; people on COVID anti-viral and other treatments; NHS staff; and adult social care staff in care homes.  The Senior Specialist Public Health advised that the main focus of vaccinations was the 5–11-year-old age group and that pop up vaccination sites would continue in the Borough.  She stated that the vaccination rates in Guildford were in line with the average across Surrey and England. 

In response to a query from Committee members shared prior to the meeting, the Head of Environmental and Regulatory Services informed the Committee that information on obtaining Covid vaccinations was provided to Ukrainian refugees and their sponsors.

The Senior Specialist Public Health indicated that hospital admissions were decreasing and that as at 25 April there were 360 registered Covid-related deaths in Guildford. 

The Senior Specialist Public Health advised that the presumption was now for COVID-19 to be treated like any other infectious disease and for employers and employees to act accordingly.  She confirmed that the Council was reviewing its risk assessments for vulnerable clients or staff. 

The meeting was informed that service leads were being asked to consider work bubbles and training additional officers to ensure that key services and activities were maintained.  The Senior Specialist Public Health advised that the Council would redeploy staff if necessary.  The Committee was informed that test availability would be maintained for staff carrying out health or social care activities. 

The Senior Specialist Public Health advised that if staff had coronavirus symptoms but are well enough to work then, if possible, they would work from home.  She indicated that for staff were working from home was not an option then managers would make appropriate arrangements on a case-by-case basis. 

In response to a question, the Senior Specialist Public Health confirmed that the pop up vaccination sites would cater for all residents.  The Senior Specialist Public Health undertook to provide details to Committee members on the take-up of the latest vaccination dose and plans for the next tranche in the autumn.

RESOLVED:  That the updates to the Committee on the response to COVID-19 be discontinued.

The Director of Service Delivery gave a presentation on the current COVID-19 situation and the Council’s response, beginning with an update on local cases.

The Director of Service Delivery advised the meeting that the COVID-19 infection rate in Surrey for the week ending 2 November was 418.6 per 100,000, higher than the national rate of 392.2 per 100,000.  The meeting was informed that the South East rate was 426.6 per 100,000, while Guildford’s rate was 315.9 per 100,000.  The Director of Service Delivery added that Guildford’s rate had recently decreased to 288 per 100,000.  The Director of Service Delivery advised that in the previous week there had been 5,023 new cases in Surrey, of which 475 were in Guildford. The meeting was informed that as at 7 November there were 3,028 registered COVID-related deaths in Surrey, with 261 in Guildford. 

The Director of Service Delivery updated the Committee on two key COVID-19 issues: vaccination and testing; and track and trace.  The meeting was advised that while Guildford currently had the lowest rate of cases in the county, infection rates could change quickly and it was only a couple of weeks since Guildford was near the top.  The Director of Service Delivery indicated that cases were still mainly associated with schools and leisure facilities.  He informed the Committee that information on third vaccination rates was currently only available at a national level and that up to 3 November the number of people who had received their third vaccination was 7,536,909.  The Committee was advised that local information on third vaccination levels would be included in Covid updates as soon as possible. 

The Director of Service Delivery indicated that the Council continued to support testing in the Borough through regular mobile testing units at Sutherland Memorial Park and lateral flow testing being arranged for Thursdays on the Rotunda.

The Director of Service Delivery advised that Surrey County Council would monitor the effect of government guidelines requiring those entering a care home to be double vaccinated; he indicated that the impact was unknown but considered by Surrey County Council to be manageable.

The Committee was advised that the Council continued to support track and trace, with 21 face to face contact tracing cases completed in the past month, of which 13 cases were successfully contacted and resolved.

In response to a question from a Committee member, the Senior Specialist Public Health confirmed that the Council had been supporting educational initiatives about the importance of vaccinations for young people.   

The Director of Service Delivery gave apresentation on the current COVID-19 situation and theCouncil’s response, beginningwith an update on local cases. The Committee was advised that the COVID-19 infection rate in Surrey was 67 per100,000, lower than the national rate of 116.9 per 100,000 and the same as the South East rate (of 67.3 per 100,000), while Guildford’s rate in the last week had fallen to 50.3 per 100,000.  The Director of Service Delivery advised that in the previousweek there had been 801 new cases in Surrey, of which 75 werein Guildford.  The meetingwas informed that asat 27 June there were 2,918 registered COVID-related deaths in Surrey, with 247 in Guildford.

The Director of Service Delivery advised the meeting of two key COVID-19 issues: vaccination and testing; and business support and grants.  The meeting was advised that in Surrey the case numbers of the Delta variant were highest in Reigate and Banstead, where targeted testing was taking place.  The Director of Service Delivery indicated that there were plans in place for surge testing in Guildford if required.  The Committee was informed that vaccination rates in the Borough were comparable with the national and regional figures.  With reference to the lower than average vaccination rate in Guildford town centre, the Director of Service Delivery advised the meeting that the Council were working with Surrey County Council and health partners on a targeted communications campaign. 

The Director of Service Delivery updated the meeting on the discretionary and mandatory grants paid, including Restart Grants.  He indicated that the Council was helping the business community to adjust to the delay in the government’s roadmap.  With reference to the launch of the Guildford Fringe and an upcoming brocante market, the Director of Service Delivery advised the Committee that events were starting to return to Guildford.

In response to questions, the Senior Specialist Public Health indicated that while a replacement vaccination centre for G Live had not been finalised, it would likely be the park and ride site at Artington.  In addition, the Senior Specialist Public Health undertook to look into the issue of providing further information to residents on the Delta variant.

The Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Service Delivery introduced the item. He referred to the possible ending of restrictions on 21 June and advised the meeting that the vaccination centre at G Live would close at the end of July.  The Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Service Delivery indicated that sites for a new vaccination centre in Guildford were being explored and he would keep councillors updated. 

The Managing Director gave apresentation on the current COVID-19 situation and theCouncil’s response, beginningwith an update on local cases. The Committee was advised that the COVID-19 infection rate in Surrey was 32.6 per100,000, lower than the national rate of 36.6 per 100,000 but higher than the South East rate of 25.3 per 100,000, while Guildford’s rate had risen in the last week to 14.8 per 100,000.  The Managing Director advised that in the previousweek there had been 390 new cases in Surrey, of which 22 werein Guildford.  The meetingwas informed that asat 8 June there were 2,913 registered COVID-related deaths in Surrey, with 246 in Guildford.

The Managing Directoradvised the meeting of key COVID-19 issues: the Government road map to the removal of COVID restrictions; support and services forthe most vulnerable; businesssupport and grants; Council services;staffing matters; and vaccination and testing.  The meeting was advised that the services at the Hive and the community fridge had re-started.  The Managing Director confirmed that the intention was to re-open the reception area of the Council offices at the end of June if Government guidance permitted.  In addition, the Committee was advised that the model for lateral flow testing across Surrey had changed from fixed sites to mobile ones that could be deployed as necessary.

In response to a question about hesitancy towards the coronavirus vaccine, the Senior Specialist Public Health indicated that the reasons among Council staff varied. 

The Chairman thanked the Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Service Delivery and the Managing Director and other officers for attending.