Agenda item

That:

1)         the gaps in Covid testing provision in Wokingham Borough be noted;

2)         a supplementary estimate of up to £120,000 be approved for the purchase of Covid swab test service for emergency provision;

3)         this supplementary estimate will be drawn down in stages as tests are needed for essential workers or outbreak management;

4)         the decisions relating to the draw down on this supplementary estimate be delegated to the Director for Adult Social Care and Health in consultation with the Lead Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Services on the advice of the Public Health Consultant.

The Executive considered a report relating to a proposal to purchase a Covid-19 swab test service for emergency provision.

The Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Services outlined the proposal which was to purchase an amount of Covid testing kits to provide the ability to test educational key workers, where there was a risk to schools capacity, and other key workers should they be unable to access testing through the NHS track and trace system.  Based on initial data provided by schools, and considering the possible size of local outbreaks, it was estimated that around 500 tests, with the capacity to increase to 1,000 tests at a future point if necessary, were required.

Councillor Margetts advised that the selected supplier would be able to deliver the required number of test kits, which had a shelf life of 12 months, at a lead time of a week.  The tests once completed would be sent to the lab and would be turned around within 48 hours, seven days a week.  All positive results would be notified to Public Health England; thereby linking into the track and trace system.

Councillor Kaiser commented that he believed that spending money on Covid tests was completely justified as the proposal would support those in care homes and in schools. 

Councillor Haitham Taylor also provided her support to the scheme and particularly how important it was to access tests over the weekend.  She cited a recent case of a small primary school who was unable to access enough tests or advice over a weekend which led to the school having to close because one teacher had tested positive for Covid-19.  This had a huge impact on the local community and she would not want to see that happen within the Borough.  By purchasing these tests it would mean that testing could be undertaken quickly and should be able to alleviate this happening.   

Councillor Margetts provided an update on the situation in the Borough and stated that Wokingham currently had a low level of Covid with cases around a third of the national average with track and trace just under 90% which was encouraging.  However account had to be taken of the fact that the national picture was getting worse and that further outbreaks were likely to occur.  The Council was therefore planning for these eventualities to ensure that they were ready to deal with and mitigate such incidences as soon as possible.  It was noted that the Council would be shortly accepting responsibility for some track and trace functions.

RESOLVED that:

1)         the gaps in Covid testing provision in Wokingham Borough be noted;

2)         a supplementary estimate of up to £120,000 be approved for the purchase of Covid swab test service for emergency provision;

3)         this supplementary estimate will be drawn down in stages as tests are needed for essential workers or outbreak management;

4)         the decisions relating to the draw down on this supplementary estimate be delegated to the Director for Adult Social Care and Health in consultation with the Lead Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Services on the advice of the Public Health Consultant.