Agenda item

5.1

Greg Fell, the Director of Public Health, provided a Coronavirus (Covid-19) update focused on the number of local cases, enhanced support and core messaging.

He reported that the number of cases in Sheffield were low and were stable to going down, but were not going down fast enough.  We are not in a terrible position but neither are we in a comfortable position.  We have moved from a position of widespread transmission across the City to fewer cases of concentrated community transmission in certain parts of the City. He stated that plans are in place to deal with this. He confirmed that there had a been a couple of work placed outbreaks but these had been managed successfully.

He explained details of the local lowdown situation in Leicester and the thresholds/metrics involved in the Government’s decisions to enforce local lowdown.  Sheffield's position was noted and in particular that the advice from Public Health England was to develop an enhanced strategy which includes increased local testing and enhanced communications to improve reach and impact in particular cohorts and communities. 

The core messages, in order of importance, remain: stay at home if you have symptoms or are a contact of someone who has been diagnosed positive; get tested early if you have symptoms, even if mild; hand washing; social distancing; and lastly face coverings, which although beneficial, are less so than the other measures.

Details of the Sectary of State’s suggestion that Sheffield needed enhanced support were noted, although it was explained that the numbers tended not to support this.  The Council was working with Government to establish what this means in terms of detail.  He confirmed that he is satisfied that, whilst we are not in a comfortable position, the numbers/statistics were heading in the right direction and that he was satisfied with our strategy and plans, our understanding of the epidemiology, and our operational and governance arrangements. In particular, the Outbreak Control Board and Plan were in place and working well.

He stated that, with regard to this winter, a Covid-19 vaccine would be unlikely; it was unlikely that the virus will just go way; and that there could be a surge and a spike in cases.  He indicated that there will be an enhanced national winter flu campaign that may expand the eligibility criteria and that it was possible that  there may be a positive impact on the prevention of the winter flu as a result of the Covi-19 preventative measures being practiced.