Issue - meetings

The Board received a report providing an update on how the Council and its partners continued to monitor and manage the impact of Covid-19 in Oldham.  The report advised of the position in Oldham as at 29^th October 2020 with regard to the number of Covid cases, tests carried out and deaths.  Within the report, Oldham’s response was broken down into four key themes of Test, Trace, Enforcement and Compliance, and Community Engagement and Communications, with a commentary of activities under each theme being provided.  Board Members were asked to note that notice of a national lockdown commencing on 5^th November 2020 and to run to 3^rd December 2020 had been given as the submitted report was being completed. 

The Board was advised that the evidence available did not link Covid transmission to any specific setting but did suggest transmission happening in a range of settings where there is social contact between people that is not socially distanced.  In order to reduce transmission and bring the R value below 1, it was therefore necessary to substantially reduce the amount of social contact between people from different households and there had been some recognition that measures which go further than the current tier 3 package of measures may be needed in order to substantially reduce infection rates.

Beyond the current period of national lockdown, it was necessary to consider what package of measures/strategy would be needed for the coming months, as the challenges of controlling transmission will persist throughout the winter and into the spring, periods which would normally see increases in viral infections and pressures on health and social care services.  Control measures would need to be supported by effective communications, engagement and enforcement as well as testing and contact tracing and the ongoing work on these remains a vital part of Oldham’s ongoing strategy. 

In response to a query regarding facilities for homeless people, the Board was advised that a seven day testing service was provided and that should a homeless person be found to have Covid or be required to isolate, partners would be engaged to find appropriate accommodation as set out in Oldham’s response plan.  Further to a concern as to access to testing provision for those without internet access or a mobile phone, it was advised that this had been raised with the national testing programme which relied on email or text communication: a response to this approach was awaited.  It was hoped that newer tests providing more immediate results might offer a solution, and locally a scheme involving a ‘trusted contact’ was being investigated.

The Board was further advised that Healthwatch Oldham had undertaken a survey of patient experience across Oldham during the Covid period.  This survey had concluded at the end of October following particular efforts to ensure the input of disadvantaged groups.  It was hoped that an interim report could be shared by late 2020/early 2021, with a full report following.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.