A FIFTH of Bradford’s 306 Coronavirus related deaths have happened in care homes - Council bosses have been told.

During an online meeting of Bradford Council’s Executive yesterday, members were given the latest numbers of people who have died and tested positive for Covid-19.

And members also heard that almost 13,000 vulnerable people in the District are shielding in their homes to prevent them getting the virus.

The figures were discussed at the first Bradford Council meeting held since the lockdown effectively put an end to public meetings. Instead of meeting in City Hall as usual, members met online, with the meeting broadcast to members of the public to view.

There was just one item on the agenda - the impact of Covid-19 on the Bradford District.

During the almost two hour meeting, members discussed issues such as how Bradford can prepare to come out of lockdown to the impact on local schools.

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It emerged that Bradford Council was soon to re-start bulky waste collection services, and that a phased approach to re-opening household waste centres would be starting shortly - as soon as the Government provided clarity as to whether the service was essential.

Members heard that 306 Coronavirus deaths have been reported in Bradford, of which 62 were in care homes.

And 30 per cent of the District’s care homes had Covid-19 infections.

The figures are slightly different than the daily figures that have been announced for Bradford since the pandemic began. These figures looked at Covid-19 related deaths in Bradford hospitals only, where as the Council figures look at all Covid-19 related deaths registered in the district. This includes care homes, deaths at home and deaths in hospices.

Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: “Every one of these deaths is a family tragedy.”

Bev Maybury, Strategic Director for Health and Wellbeing, spoke to members about the support being given to people who are “shielding.”

People who are at the highest risk of falling victim to Covid-19, such as cancer patients, people recovering from major operations and people with severe breathing problems, were advised to remain at home, with minimal contact with anyone else, for a minimum of 12 weeks.

Mrs Maybury said there were 12,771 people in Bradford who were shielding, adding: “Getting Covid 19 would be extremely damaging to those individuals.”

The Council has contacted or attempted to contact every person on that list to determine if they needed help obtaining food, medicine or what would normally be simple tasks, such as walking their dog.

The Council had also found accommodation for 33 homeless people since lockdown.

Members were also told of the challenges of looking after Bradfords vulnerable young people. Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “Many of our young people live in small homes with no access to public spaces. We have to make sure we look after their physical and mental health.”

Steve Hartley Strategic Director of Place, told members of the impact on business. He said 70 per cent of all Bradford businesses had furloughed staff and 30 per cent of workers were currently on furlough.

He added: “The economic impact of this is going to be felt for a long time. We are now looking at how we might emerge into the period where we are living with the virus, and then later emerging from that period into the total recovery of the economy.”

The lockdown was likely to have a massive impact on Council finances, with a greater spend on social services required at a time when income from leisure centres, theatres and car parks was plummeting.

Bradford had been allocated £135 million in loans to hand out to local businesses impacted by lockdown. Members were given an update on how much had been handed out - 7,650 businesses had received £82.5 million in grants.

This is 62 per cent of eligible businesses.

Joanne Hyde, Strategic Director - Corporate Resources, said any eligible business that has supplied the Council with their bank details should get their payment by the end of the week. She added: “We recognise this needs to improve significantly.”

She said 2,000 businesses were yet to provide the Council with all the details needed.

Every speaker at the meeting praised the efforts of Council staff, pointing out that many had been re-deployed into areas they never expected to be working. Chief Executive Kersten England said: “I have to praise the Council staff who have given up holidays and are working seven days a week, many of whom have been re-deployed to keep essential services running.

“The people of the district have been magnificent with complying with the stringent restrictions placed on them, and for that reason we have seen a smaller death rate then we would have otherwise expected.”

Over 3,000 Council staff are now working from home.