North Yorkshire Outbreak Management Advisory Board

Notes of the remote meeting held on Wednesday 24^th November 2021 at 2.00 p.m.

THOSE WHO JOINED THE DISCUSSION:

North Yorkshire County Council Representatives:

County Councillor Carl Les, Leader, North Yorkshire County Council (Chair)

County Councillor Andrew Lee, Executive Member, Public Health, Prevention, Supported Housing

County Councillor Michael Harrison, Executive Member for Adult Services and Health Integration

Barry Khan, Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services)

Victoria Turner, Public Health Consultant

Louise Wallace, Director of Public Health

Jessica Marshall, Health Improvement Manager – Health Protection

District Council Representatives:

Councillor Angie Dale, Richmondshire Borough Council

Councillor Richard Foster, Ryedale District Council

Councillor Liz Colling, Scarborough Borough Council

Councillor Dinah Keal, Ryedale District Council

Other Partners’ Representatives:

Andrew Dangerfield, Head of Primary Care, North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (substitute for Amanda Bloor)

Ashley Green, Chief Executive Officer, Healthwatch, North Yorkshire

Mark Hopley, Community First Yorkshire (substitute for Jane Colthup)

Nicola Hutchinson, representing the Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner

Beverley Proctor, Chief Executive, Independent Care Group (substitute for Mike Padgham)

Helen Simpson, Chair, York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership

Ian Yapp, Chief Education Officer, the STAR Multi-Academy Trust

Lisa Winward, Chief Constable

In attendance (all from North Yorkshire County Council, unless stated):

County Councillor Karin Sedgwick

Patrick Duffy, Principal Democratic Services Scrutiny Officer (Clerk)

Diane Parsons, Principal Scrutiny Officer

Andy Robson, Head of Section, Business Compliance

Apologies received from:

Amanda Bloor, Accountable Officer, North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group

Councillor Mark Crane, Selby District Council

Jane Colthup, Chief Executive, Community First Yorkshire

Simon Dennis, Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer, Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner

Richard Flinton, Chief Executive, North Yorkshire County Council

Mike Padgham, Chair, Independent Care Group

Sally Tyrer, Chair, North Yorkshire Local Medical Committee

Councillor Stephen Watson, Hambleton District Council

Richard Webb, Corporate Director, Health and Adult Services

Copies of all documents considered are in the Minute Book

NO.	ITEM
204	WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION BY THE CHAIR County Councillor Carl Les welcomed Members of the Board and any members of the public or media viewing the meeting.   He advised that he is the Leader of the Council and Chairs this Board and that:- - the main role of this Board is to support the effective communication of the test, trace and contain plan for the county and to ensure that the public and local businesses are effectively communicated with;   - decisions of the Board are purely advisory and its recommendations will be considered through the governance arrangements of the bodies represented, which retain their decision making sovereignty; - the papers for this meeting had been published in advance on the County Council’s website; and - the Board comprises, among others, representatives of the County Council; District and Borough Councils; the NHS; UK Health Security Agency; Schools; Healthwatch; the Care Sector; and the Voluntary Sector
205	APOLOGIES As stated in the attendance on the previous page.
206	NOTES OF MEETING HELD ON  29^TH OCTOBER 2021 AGREED that these were an accurate reflection of the discussion.
207	DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest.
208	NOTIFICATION OF ANY OTHER BUSINESS The Chair asked Members if they could advise him, at this stage, whether they had any item of urgent business they were likely to raise under that heading, so that he could ensure there was sufficient time at the end to consider it.  No Members indicated that they had any urgent business to raise.
209	UPDATE ON THE CURRENT POSITION IN NORTH YORKSHIRE  Slides were presented by Louise Wallace, which contained data on North Yorkshire daily cases; 7-day infection rates; and daily deaths. Louise highlighted the following aspects:- - North Yorkshire is tracking above the England average for the rate of infection, as it has for some time now. The seven-day England average, per 100,000 population, is 427.1, compared to 554.6 in North Yorkshire. - The majority of cases remain among the younger age population. We are working closely with Schools to get rates down. - There are 391 daily cases on average on a rolling average basis. - Proactive measures are being taken and we are continuing to encourage the use of face coverings including, for example, in communal areas in Schools. - It is important that people wash their hands with soap and water.  There is a place for hand-sanitiser but it is not as effective as hand washing. - We also encourage people to use lateral flow test devices and to consider testing themselves beforehand when they are going to be in an enclosed space. - The number of daily deaths is, thankfully, much lower than during the peak. There were 9 deaths in the past week. At the request of the Chair, Ian Yapp provided his update at this stage, as it followed on naturally from the update by the Director of Public Health. Schools update - Schools continue to see significant and varied impact from Covid. - They continue to work with advice from North Yorkshire Teams and receive excellent advice when it is necessary to step up the response. - The Selby caseload has escalated recently.  Following advice received, for a two-week period that commenced on 22^nd October, face coverings have been introduced in all communal areas in Secondary Schools. - Lateral Flow Tests continue and those eligible are encouraged to get vaccinated. - All Schools are being visited to offer the vaccine to pupils aged 12 to 15 and all 16-17 year olds, not previously eligible, can now book a second dose through the National Booking Service if 12 weeks have passed since their first dose. - All these measures are aligning but the situation remains very challenging. NOTED.
210	EVENTS Victoria Turner updated Members verbally and made the following points, in particular:- - The Outbreak Management Hub continues to receive updates from District and Borough Council colleagues regarding events being held in North Yorkshire. These updates generally include documentation received by event organisers, and lists of events, with any concerns noted. - COVID-19 specific elements are then reviewed with a particular focus on risk assessments. Advice and tailored guidance is then issued to the local Safety Advisory Groups (SAGs) and event organisers, depending on local arrangements, to improve the Covid-19 measures in place. - The SAGs receive notification of events that require licences, or are being held on public and Council owned land. - To improve the ability of the Outbreak Management Hub to respond to a greater number of events in North Yorkshire, we have requested District colleagues to provide us with intelligence around additional private event spaces, and to remain vigilant to other intelligence surrounding events on their patch. - We retain regulatory powers to impose restrictions or prohibitions on premises and events that pose a serious and imminent threat to public health, but aim to support the balance between public health and the economy. - Targeted advice was produced for events held during the recent half-term break. - New Festive Guidance has been issued which outlines expectations.  These are based on five key measures to make events safer. - The Guidance covers:- 1. Communicating key measures to staff and attendees before and during events. 2. Displaying signage, and measures for ‘hands, face, space, ventilate’ alongside providing hand cleaning stations, and a supply of face coverings. 3. Reducing and removing prolonged close contacts of groups, cleaning and ventilation. 4. High risk transmission activities including singing, and associated mitigation 5. Promoting testing before attending. 6. The Regulations surrounding the Guidance and the point at which things may escalate and be deemed in scope of restrictions and/or cancellations. - We continue to promote testing prior to Events. This fits in with new Government Guidance promoting Lateral Flow Testing before higher risk activities, including Christmas events and shopping. - The aim of the Guidance is to give organisers clear Guidance for key identifiable high risk activities and outline any mitigations or alternative arrangements they can put in place to reduce the risk for any event. - District colleagues have been asked to provide an up-to-date list of events over the festive season and share documentation for any events that they are concerned about and, in turn, to support the County Council by asking for documentation in respect of events that we are concerned about. - The above is in light of the changing response to the prevalence of Covid-19 locally, and nationally, and the public’s change in perception of risk. The Government has recently changed its stance on Lateral Flow Testing.  We previously recommended a test twice a week. The recommendation is now to take a test if “you will be in a high risk situation that day or before you visit people who are at higher risk of severe illness if they get COVID-19. You are at a higher risk of catching or passing on COVID-19 when in crowded and enclosed spaces, or there is limited fresh air”.  This, alongside greater media coverage, should encourage a larger proportion of the population to take a test before attending any event. - All of the guidance published regarding events in North Yorkshire is available at https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/guidance-events Finally, Victoria acknowledged the role of Jessica Marshall, Health Improvement Manager – Health Protection, who has been instrumental in leading this work. Jess has also been a valuable link for District partners. NOTED.
211	VACCINATION UPDATE Andrew Dangerfield updated as follows:- - The Vaccination Programme continues but different cohorts of vaccinations are live at the moment. - The Evergreen Offer continues for anyone over 18 who has not yet had their first or second dose. - The booster vaccination is available for anyone over 50; those who are immuno-compromised; and health and social care workers. This has recently been expanded to include 40-49 year olds. - The Schools Programme for 12 to 15 year olds continues to roll out. It has not been as fast as we would have liked but it is working well now. - 16 and 17 year olds can now receive a second dose and immuno-compromised will receive a third dose at any time eight weeks and beyond their second dose and they will be entitled to a booster at six months following their third dose. - Across North Yorkshire and York, 614,700 people have received a first dose; 573,480 have received a second dose; and 213,985 have received a booster. - In percentage terms, 89% of people have now received a first and second dose and 54% of the eligible population have received a booster. In response to a question by Ian Yapp, Andrew Dangerfield advised that the programme to deliver a vaccine to all pupils aged 12-15 by the end of November was likely to go beyond November. It has been bolstered by some Community Pharmacies having been approved to provide the vaccine outside of School Hours. Therefore, the Programme should pick up pace further.  He also confirmed that there would be an Evergreen Offer for 12 to 15 year olds. NOTED.
212	COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE The Chair advised that Mike James, Team Leader, Marketing and Customer, was unable to attend today’s meeting but he had produced a written update, which had been circulated. There were no questions relating to this. NOTED.

213	PARTNER UPDATES Business – Helen Simpson - Transport problems continue, with particular shortages in freight capacity and HGV drivers. - Facing significant pressures on input costs.  Some sectors seeing sharp rises in salaries. - However, there remains considerable business confidence. The Business Confidence Indicator for the Region is above its historical average, which is a sign of stoicism and passionate enthusiasm for business growth across the patch - In summary, business is feeling challenged, but is rising to these challenges. - Care Sector – Beverley Proctor - Continued workforce shortages across health and social care continues to present a very challenging situation. - Working hard with the County Council and the Clinical Commissioning Group to look at alternative pathways and ways of working. Healthwatch – Ashley Green - Not receiving many calls about the vaccine, which indicates that people are happy and the Vaccination Programme is going well. - Healthwatch are hearing how Covid has impacted on people’s mental health, with delays in accessing services.  Liaising with TEWV NHS Foundation Trust and Volunteer Networks about this to make them aware. Police – Lisa Winward - Not seeing any particular levels of calls of service in relation to Covid levels and communities. - From a policing perspective, a fair share of staff have had Covid but this has not affected the Constabulary’s ability to deliver the usual policing service. - The opportunities for online meetings that now exist allows people to work remotely if their role allows this. UK Health Security Agency Victoria advised that Katie Comer was unable to attend and updated on her behalf:- - As of October 2021, the relevant functions of Public Health England had been transferred to NHS England, via either the UK Health Security Agency, or the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities. - The UK Health Security Agency continues to support us - including on Avian Flu, currently. - Katie is our representative on the Health Protection Team. Voluntary and Community Sector – Mark Hopley - Continuing to work with colleagues on communications, especially to ensure voluntary sector front line workers have access to the vaccine and latest messages on public health regarding events and how to manage these safely.
214	NEXT MEETING The Chair confirmed that the next meeting will be on Thursday 23^rd December at 2.00 p.m.
215	ANY OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business to consider.

The meeting concluded at 2.35 p.m.

PD