Rob Nelder (Consultant in Public Health) was present for this item and highlighted the following:

·        On 27 August, Plymouth, along with its neighbouring local authorities, was classed as an Enhanced Response Area (ERA) by the Government.  This was because rates were the highest in England;

·        As a result of being an ERA they have a number of engagement exercises taking place across the city with pop-up vaccination clinics across the city over the next two weekends;

·        Since becoming an ERA rates have fallen, but they were still higher than the England average;

·        The ERA process ends automatically on Friday 1 October.

·        The Covid-19 Autumn and Winter Plan has also been published.  The Government aim to sustain the progress made and prepare the country for future challenges, while ensuring the NHS does not come under unsustainable pressure. 

·        As at 21 September there have been a total of 24,543 Covid-19 cases in Plymouth.  The rate per 100,000 population (for comparability purposes) is 265.6 in Plymouth, 195.1 in the South West and 255.5 in England.

·        Hospital admissions remain at a high level and in Derriford with over 40 Covid-19 cases, and this has a significant impact on the way in which the hospital operates.

·        As at 8 September (registration date), there have been 252 deaths of Plymouth residents as a result of Covid.

·        Vaccination levels in Plymouth were higher than the national average for each age category and have seen a strong uptake in younger people.

·        In total 80% Plymouth residents have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 73% Plymouth residents have received two doses.

·        Booster programme for people aged 50 years and over, health and social care workers and younger people at risk are being offered a booster dose of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.  This booster dose would help extend the protection gained from the first two doses and give longer term protection.

·        12-15 programme - all children aged 12 to 15 years are being offered a first dose of vaccine as part of the school-based COVID-19 vaccination programme. Children who are 12 years old and over on the day the School Age Immunisation Service (SAIS) team visits the school, would be offered a vaccination as part of the in-school vaccination programme.

·        Long Covid - PHE recently published an evidence review entitled ‘Long COVID Impact on Health and Wellbeing’

·        Diagnosis of Long COVID remains a challenge with c. 27% of General Practitioner (GP) practices not using Long COVID codes, and patients are reporting fear, helplessness, and a variation in the quality of care provided by healthcare staff.

·        Emerging evidence on Long COVID treatment strategies suggest that patients would benefit from integrated care pathways including pulmonary rehabilitation, physical rehabilitation, and treatment for mental health issues, as well as support from social and financial services for loss of work capacity and ongoing ill health.

Questions from members related to:

·        How were we supporting our staff due to long Covid?

·        How were we informing people where the walk-ins are and how this was being advertised to the younger cohort?

·        At what point do you go into an enhance response?

·        The pop up vaccinations sites were they in certain areas of the city due to the number of cases in that area or lack of people being people being vaccinated?

The Committee noted the Covid updated and requested that the Long COVID Impact on Health and Wellbeing’ to be forwarded to the committee.