To receive a presentation and update on the latest COVID-19 data and related activity.

The Chairman explained that this would be in two parts, a general covid update from David Scott and a covid memorial update from Councillors Stimson and Taylor.

David Scott covered the covid update in three sections, first a little bit around the current rates and cases, second area would be a little bit of an update on where we were with vaccinations and then finally just picking up on the implications for the borough as we move towards the government's roadmap step four. David Scott made use of the Berkshire Public Health website. The graph showed the rates over the last four months and you showed that since early June, there had been a steady increase in the rates and this had been widely discussed and was not unique to us. The position now was that actually the wider southeast picture was overtaken and if the England figure was added, then it was even higher. The current rate was196 for the overall population per hundred thousand in terms of the seven-day picture so case rates were increasing and people needed to be aware of that. David Scott showed the Forum in table form of how the borough compared with its neighbouring boroughs. David Scott then referred to the vaccinations and the borough was sitting at 80 percent which was towards the top end of the range in the county. It was really important to continue to push the vaccination rates David Scott then referred to the heat maps and age ranges. The Forum were asked to consider the three age brackets, the 15 to 19, the 20 to 24 and the 25 to 25 and note there was a deepening of the dark colour which demonstrated the intensity of infection rates. David Scott was pleased to report that although there had been the rise, predominantly the result of the delta variant which was now the dominant variant in the community and it was much more transmissible and therefore it was important that we continued to be covid safe to try and restrict the community transmission. The team were working really hard to get the message to young adults and promote the vaccinations. There was now good evidence that supported the fact that the vaccination was certainly reducing the seriousness with which people suffered from a covid infection and also reduced the number of hospitalizations and the time people were needing to spend in hospital.

The Chairman gave a big shoutout to all the volunteers that were helping out at the vaccination centers, moving from the racecourse now to lakeland and other venues.

Councillor Davey asked if a thousand, under 25’s got covid, how many of them would end up in hospital? David Scott commented that there was no conversation rate but the borough had had two hospitalizations in the last week and the rates of hospital admission were much lower but these were expected to rise because of the increase in infection transmission rates. David Scott commented that a lot of work was being done to help young adults understand the benefits of having the vaccine to them and their wider circle.

Councillor Bateson asked about the dark colour in the charts for 15 year olds, who could not have the vaccine at present and the effect on schools and then Councillor Bateson asked about how covid was transmitted if it was not through hands, face and space. David Scott commented that there had been spread into the lower age group. This was predominantly the 17 and 18 and the 19 to 24 year olds in the last week. We were very nearly at the end of the school term and so we are looking at what schools would be doing when they returned in the September term. This was an ongoing piece of work. The evidence was now very clear around the spread of the disease and through airborne particles much more so than the touch. Face coverings would still be essential in high risk areas such as on public transport and crowded places.

Councillor Knowles commented that is was important for people to break the mental link that being vaccinated prevented the spread of covid as it didn’t, it just minimised the effects of it on an individual. More people were out and about now and therefore testing more and therefore there was more testing data. It was important that as long as the hospitalization and the mortality stayed low that is what really the clinicians are looking at. David Scott commented that the borough was continuing to look at ways of rolling testing out, not just based at community venues such as the two main leisure centres

but much more mobile venues with staff running a more flexible sort of testing arrangement with pop-up events to make it easier for young people and more convenient through walk-ins clinics.

Councillor Price added that the impact of long covid also needed to be considered as there were residents already suffering from the effects of long covid. David Scott commented that work was taking place on the effects of long covid.

Councillor Stimson started by introducing a young 15-year-old, Lucas Garrett, who was doing some work experience assisting Councillor Stimson. Lucas Garrett had been engaging with many young adults and looking at ways to increase the uptake on the vaccine.

Councillor Stimson informed the Forum that last year Councillor Taylor had proposed a contemplative place for people who had lost some loved ones to covid and having worked with Councillor Taylor and Jason Mills, Countryside Manager, we looked around the borough and we found a place that we thought was suitable as it was halfway between Windsor and Maidenhead and it was a stagnant pond with a punctured liner. The pond was no longer good for wildlife and was therefore removed. The water was pumped out, the liner was relocated and also a few newts were relocated. They were taken to Braywood Nature Center. Once the pond had settled, wildflower seed were put around the outside of it. It was in the corner of Oakley Green cemetery and there was also a side access to it too. A Facebook page had been set up. Some aquatic plants would come in September.

Councillor Taylor added that one of the reasons we chose the location was also because the cemetery was multi-faith and that was important and that everybody felt comfortable going to that location. There was a public footpath which ran alongside so you could access the site without actually having to go via the cemetery. Councillor Taylor commented that many people didn't have access to open space so it was thought that a wildlife place would again be suitable as a memorial. Residents were being asked to join the Facebook page or contact the Councillors for more information.

Councillor Tisi commented that this would be a lovely fitting tribute and would be appreciated by many families as many of us had lost people in the pandemic. Councillor Tisi asked what the Facebook page was. It was rbwmcovid-memorialvolunteersoakleygreen.

The Chairman thanked both Councillors and commented that this was a really important initiative and following it through and actually delivering such a poignant and beautiful reminder.