Agenda item

The Council will receive an update of the current position with regard to the Covid pandemic within Barnsley.

Ms Julia Burrows (Director of Public Health) gave a presentation giving an update of the current position with regard to the Covid 19 pandemic within Barnsley.

The presentation gave details of the following:

·         A brief outline of the disease, its impact and the ways in which people could be protected

·         A ‘look back’ over the last five months of the number of Covid 19 cases for England, Yorkshire and the Humber region and for Barnsley

·         The number of Covid 19 daily cases so far within Barnsley – as at 28^th July, 2020 there were 1976 cases giving a cumulative rate of 804.2 per 100,00 of the population

·         Details of the early July figures – which indicated higher rates across South Yorkshire and a reducing number (albeit slower rate) within Barnsley compared to other ‘watchlist’ areas.  It was noted that this had driven the decision to increase local testing in order to identify more cases

·         Information about Covid 19 testing in Barnsley

·         Information about enhanced testing – it was noted that 450-475 people were tested per day on average and that 3,52 had been tested within the last 7 days.  The information also provided details of the number of positive tests

·         A breakdown of the enhanced testing within Barnsley for the last two weeks indicating that the number of new cases remained low despite the undertaking of more testing.  In addition, it was pleasing to note that Barnsley was no longer within the top 10 of Local Authorities with the highest infections

·         The development of the Outbreak Control Plan and the seven key themes thereof.  It was noted that this Plan built on existing health protection plans to identify and suppress possible outbreaks before they gained momentum, put in place control measures and protected the public’s health

·         The establishment on the 30^th June, 2020, composition and remit of an Outbreak Control Engagement Group.  This Board oversaw the prevention of Coronovirus transmission within the Borough and ensured that outbreaks were managed effectively if and when they occurred

·         The provision of Face Coverings both to staff and to Barnsley residents

·         A reminder of the 6 steps that people could do to help control Coronovirus

The Director of Public Health concluded her presentation by thanking all Members for their support during this difficult period.

The Mayor, in thanking the Director of Public Health for her presentation indicated that any Members wanting to know more information and ask further questions should contact the Director of Public Health by email.