Agenda item

(To receive a report by Michelle Andrews, Assistant Director – Corporate Recovery, which provides an update on Covid-19 in Lincolnshire)

Consideration was given to a report by the Assistant Director – Corporate Recovery, which provided an overview of the work by the Local Resilience Forum (LRF), partners, and Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) to manage Lincolnshire's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, since the last update to the Board on the 28 October 2021.

The Board was referred to the following data, which was detailed within the report:

•  Rate of Positive Cases per 100,000 Population is 404.4 per 100,000 (22^nd November 2021) in comparison to the 25^th October 2021, which was reported at 521.4 per 100,000.
• On the 22^nd November 2021, Lincolnshire Covid-19 cases reported in the last seven day period was 3,099, in comparison to the figure reported on the 25^th October 2021 which was 3,996.
• Deaths reported in the last seven day period up to the 24^th October 2021 for Lincolnshire was reported as seven, in comparison in the last seven day period up to the 21^st November 2021 it was reported as 16.
• Number of Covid-19 vaccines administered up to the 17^th October 2021 for Lincolnshire was 1,131,705, as of the 14^th November 2021 this was reported as 1,145,465.

As requested by the Board in October, data on cases in surrounding areas of the country to provide a comparison was included, which could be found on pages 3-4 of the report.

The – LRF, Recovery Strategic Coordination Group (RSCG) had received assurance presentations from the Business and Economy Group, Enforce, Engage, and Comply group, and a representative from Lincolnshire Event Safety Partnership  setting out the direction of travel.   All representatives had provided  a positive position and indicated stability in their respective sectors. Plans were in place to address the ongoing vulnerabilities and risks. 

The  vaccination programme continued to make good progress through the NHS. T in addition there had been confirmation that funding would continue to be provided until the end of March 2022, allowing the Council to deliver ongoing testing and tracing provision locally. This additional funding would provide support to deliver the ongoing response activity at a county level via the public health team.

The LRF has now come to the end of their forward plan for the oversight and assurance phase as part of the recovery 2021 arrangements   for the pandemic.  Providing that partners no longer needed any further assurance or coordination of recovery activity from the LRF, and the information and evidence provided assurance that recovery could be sustained within everyday core business activity, it was  likely that there would be a decision to stand down the existing recovery command structures. The Council’s Emergency Planning team would continue to support all of the necessary arrangements under the Civil Contingencies Act.

The Board considered the report and during the discussion the following points were noted:

• The Board requested that the outcome of the recovery strategic coordination group meeting be reported to the Board.
• The online booking system for vaccinations was an NHS function and using the online booking system limited the number of venues that were available to the user. It was noted that GP’s were able to assist with booking vaccinations at a number of locations more local to the user when eligible they would be contacted directly by their surgery.

RESOLVED:

              That the update be noted.