Hastings Borough Council calls for COVID-19 Plan B

A key role for Hastings Borough Council since March 2020 has been to work closely with the NHS and Public Health to ensure that work tackling the pandemic is locally focused, and properly communicated. We have been meeting weekly to plan better vaccination and testing provision, for example, and this has led to the newly opened Vaccination Centre in the Town Hall (current opening times below).
Last Friday, the regional Public Health team asked us for our views on the government's current Plan A provision, and if we thought Plan B should be implemented. We responded immediately as we are very concerned that the levels of virus in Hastings have risen to nearly 300 per 100,000 and we know how busy local GPs and the Conquest Hospital already are.
Our response included that:
Hastings Borough Council is keen that the government should implement some, or all, of their 'Plan B' as soon as possible. Our population is one of the most deprived in the country, and there are still a large number of residents who are unvaccinated. Many of these have underlying health conditions which put them at greater risk from COVID-19.
We know that our children are best educated in schools or colleges, but with no protective measures we also know that cases are high here, and that is putting families and the community at risk. We have had several members of staff who have caught COVID-19 from their children, despite being double vaccinated. This is impacting on our ability to deliver services to our residents.
Council officers continue to work from home wherever possible, to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases. This will continue until the spring, when it will be reassessed. Any officers who are in the office are required to wear face coverings when not at their desks, are sitting socially distanced, and are following COVID-19 measures including regular cleaning and hand washing.
The inability to hold virtual meetings also continues to be a concern. The emergency powers which allow the Managing Director to make decisions if necessary have been extended for six months. This is to ensure that decisions can be made if local cases rise and it is not safe for meetings to be held in person.
We encourage residents to keep themselves and others safe by wearing a face covering in indoor areas, getting double vaccinated, and doing regular lateral flow tests.

COVID-19 vaccination centres:

• Kings Church Hastings Centre, The Ridge, Hastings, TN34 2SA. Tuesday to Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 10am-4pm.
• Laycock Pharmacy, 494 Old London Road, Ore, TN35 5BL. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am-4pm, Wednesday and Saturday 9am-1pm.
• Hastings Town Hall, Priory Square entrance, TN34 1QR. Thursday 10am-7pm, Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday 10am-3.30pm.
• Wellcare Pharmacy, 68 Malvern Way, Hastings, TN34 3PX. Monday to Friday 10am-5pm.
• Clarity Pharmacy, 28 Kings Road, St Leonards, TN37 6DU. Monday, Thursday and Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-4pm.