Bracknell councillors have been briefed on coronavirus figures and what measures are being taken to encourage vaccinations and testing amid Omicron variant fears.

The infection rate currently stands at 507.4 per 100,000 people, with the majority of confirmed cases coming from the five to nine age range.

On November 16, 77 patients were in Frimley Health Foundation Trust hospitals after testing positive for Covid-19 and 10 were on mechanical ventilation.

Sadly, 203 people in Bracknell Forest have died after testing positive.

As a result of the pandemic, there have been 157 ‘additional deaths’ compared to what health professionals were expecting this year.

READ MORE: Does the new Covid variant resist vaccines? What we know so far

Coronavirus figures for Bracknell Forest were presented by Gabby Haffner, the council’s senior public health strategist.

Following Ms Haffner’s presentation, Councillor Marc Brunel-Walker (Conservative, Crown Wood) said: “That’s sobering. If anyone is under any doubt as to the seriousness of this, that should just answer your questions.”

Concerns were raised that people in Bracknell would have to go outside the borough to get their vaccinations.

Cllr Brunel-Walker said that people in the area were being offered vaccine appointments in Farnborough, Fleet and Aylesbury.

Voicing similar concerns, Cllr Dr Gareth Barnard (Conservative, Warfield Harvest Ride) questioned why people could be sent to Maidenhead when there are vaccination centres at the Waitrose in Bracknell town centre and Bracknell Leisure Centre in Bagshot Road.

He said:  “It’s totally frustrating. “There is not an insignificant cohort of people who would be more reassured to go back to the place where they had their received their first jabs. This is really significant and serious.”

Cllr Barnard added that he was worried that people would be put off taking a booster vaccination if they had to go outside Bracknell Forest to get the first dose.

Kellie Williams, interim head of transformation and Engagement at Bracknell Forest Council advised people to monitor the NHS website to see when vaccination appointments come available.

She said: “My advice to all residents is if you’re in the under 40 category, if you’ve not been able to book your vaccination, please don’t try and book it yet, those slots are not available for you, but they are coming.

“My advice is to monitor the NHS website, which will let you know when that booking process goes live, once it’s live, there will be sufficient capacity within our local system to meet the local need.”

Presentations were given at a meeting of the council’s local outbreak engagement board yesterday (Tuesday, November 30).

You can see tweet coverage of the meeting here: 

The final presentation was given by Alayna Razzell, who focused on what messaging is being undertaken to make sure that people are aware of the rule changes that were implemented yesterday (Monday, November 30).

Changes include the reintroduction of the mask mandate in shops and public transport, and the requirement for anyone in contact with a possible case of the Omicron variant to self-isolate for 10 days.

READ MORE: How Bracknell and Wokingham's MPs voted on new Covid-19 measures

Ms Razzell said the council’s messaging has been focused on making these rule changes understandable and encouraging “positive behaviour changes.”

Furthermore, the council is engaging with diverse communities by putting out messages in Polish and Nepali as well as English, and is searching for people to speak out to encourage others to get tested vaccinated.

The next big messaging push will take place tomorrow (December 2) on National Boost Day’, which is a campaign to encourage anyone eligible to get booster vaccinations.