Plymouth has so far avoided the new variant of Covid-19
The new, more transmissible version of the virus, has not yet been confirmed in the city
Plymouth appears to have so far avoided an outbreak of the new variant of Covid-19, councillors have been told.
The new, more transmissible version of the virus has not yet been confirmed in the city, although it is been found in the South West region.
The current infection rate of virus spread in the city is similar to earlier waves of the pandemic, which indicates the new variant is not yet involved.
The city’s director of public health Ruth Harrell warned that the variant could still make an appearance.
But she told councillors the national lockdown had come in time to reduce the risk of the more transmissible version of Covid-19 taking off.
Dr Harrell said figures showed Plymouth was experiencing a third wave of the virus, but the rate of spread was lower than the regional and national average.
The latest rise in infections started mainly in the younger working age population, then spread upwards through the age groups.
That was probably because they were in lower paid jobs in contact with more people.
The latest update on the rate of coronavirus infections was given at a meeting of the city council’s health and wellbeing board on Thursday morning.
The latest seven-day rate of infections per 100,000 population in Plymouth was 221, compared to 342 for the South West and 592 for England.
For the over-60s, who are most at risk of serious illness, the Plymouth rate was 121, compared to the regional average of 218.
Cases doubled in 12 to 14 days, with the rates now almost as high as the last peak before the November lockdown.
The latest figures show hospital admissions with Covid-19 rising at Derriford to more than 40, with three-quarters of those being admitted aged over 60.
Dr Harrell said the rise in infections was expected to flatten in a week or so due to the current lockdown.
She said the fact that Plymouth was seeing a relatively lower rate of cases was partly due to luck and geography, but also city organisations and the community “pulling together”.
On the vaccination programme, Dr Harrell said jabs were being given to the priority groups of over-80s and health workers at hospitals and hubs across the city, with work going on to identify more sites.
She said: “The key message is that people will be invited for that, so please don’t contact your GP or hospital, wait to be contacted – you will be contacted, and that will be arranged for you.”
Dr Shelagh McCormick, of Devon NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, a GP who has been giving vaccines in care homes, said there was a target to vaccinate all care home residents in the city by the end of January.
She told councillors that the number being carried out was limited by the availability of supplies, but the programme had made a “good start” and the arrival of the newly-approved Oxford vaccine would improve the position.
Plympton councillor Patrick Nicholson questioned why patients attending the vaccination hub at Glenside had to wait outside in a tent for 15 minutes to see if they had a reaction, which he said was inappropriate for older people in the cold weather.
He also questioned the organisation of the vaccination programme at Derriford Hospital, where he said between Christmas and the New Year staff had to queue for three to four hours outside in the cold, then wait in a tent afterwards.
The councillor said: “Can the trust actually look at their organisational arrangements for vaccinating key frontline health staff at Derriford, and make sure it is a little bit more seamless and efficient?”
Councillors heard the hubs had been chosen quickly by NHS England which was funding them, but the city council had worked practively to ensure they could be accessed safely, for example with gritting due to icy weather.
Dr McCormick said the post-vaccination wait at Glenside in a tent outside did not sound ideal, and she would report the concerns to the CCG. The doctor added people were being urged to attend appointments on time and not to come early, to avoid a delay.
Dr Harrell said she would report Cllr Nicholson’s concerns about the waiting times and issues over parking to the hospital management.