This report of the Director of Public Health (Document “N”) provides an update on COVID-19 in Bradford District. It describes the response to the COVID-19 pandemic since February 2022 when activities became integrated within ‘business as usual’. The report sets out how the Bradford District COVID-19 response is being managed, in line with the management of other respiratory infections like flu. This report summarises what ‘Living safely with COVID-19’ means for Bradford District, and how we are preparing for this next phase of the pandemic.

Recommended –

The Committee is invited to note and comment on the report and to appreciate the options outlined in section 9.

(Contact: Jorge Zepeda – 07816 082224)

This report of the Director of Public Health (Document “N”) provided an update on COVID-19 in Bradford District. It described the response to the COVID-19 pandemic since February 2022 when activities became integrated within ‘business as usual’. The report set out how the Bradford District COVID-19 response was being managed, in line with the management of other respiratory infections such as the flu virus. This report summarised what ‘Living safely with COVID-19’ would mean for Bradford District, and how the service was preparing for this next phase of the pandemic.

At the invitation of the Chair, the Consultant in Public Health and the Senior Health Protection Manager gave a joint synopsis of the report. The COVID-19 pandemic was still a serious global and national public health threat. While many services were now operating business as usual, some remain under significant pressure, especially health and social care. The virus as not yet endemic (constantly circulating in the population with predictable patterns) therefore preparation for on-going new waves of infection, mainly related to emergence of new variants. As a local authority, the statutory duty to plan and respond to emergencies and public health incidents such as outbreaks of respiratory infections. The authority should continue to stay vigilant and prepared against COVID-19. That means keeping contingency plans and capacity to escalate a response if needed, while also planning how to address deepening health inequalities that had been evidenced and worsened by the pandemic. Bradford Council’s response to COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic had been guided by the COVID-19 Local Outbreak Management Plan (LOMP), first published in July 2020. LOMP’s were part of the COVID-19 Contain Framework, which set out the roles and responsibilities of local authorities and system partners in response to COVID-19 outbreaks. The Contain Framework was withdrawn in April 2022 following publication of the Living with COVID-19 national strategy which set out the next phase of the COVID-19 response. This report summarised what ‘Living with COVID-19’ means for Bradford Council and how the authority was preparing for this new phase of the pandemic.

Proceeding the presentation, a question and answer (Q&A) session ensued:

·         What was Bradford’s rate of infection in comparison to the country?

o   Bradford District had a higher COVID-19 transmission rates than most localities in England. Deaths related to COVID-19 had followed the national pattern of peaks related to new variants, with slightly steadier rates when compared to the national numbers. Up to 27 October 2022, a total of 1705 people had died within 28 days of a positive COVD-19 test within the district. This corresponded to a rate of 314 deaths per 100,000 people, while the rate for England is 300 per 100,000;

·         An explanation of vaccines availability with deprived areas was sought?

o   Nationally, those residing in the most deprived areas, whose first language was not English and some minority ethnic groups were more likely to not be fully vaccinated. As of July 2022, booster uptake was lowest amongst Black and Pakistani adults (below 35%), adults living in the most deprived areas of England (53%, compared to 84% among those living in the least deprived areas) and younger age groups (39% among 18-24 year olds). The most deprived areas also had the lowest vaccination rates to date.

Resolved:-

(1)  That the report be noted and officers thanked for their informative report, and;

(2)  That future Covid-19 updates be included in the Committee’s work programme as part of its ongoing overview of respiratory services.

Action: Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing