City of York Council has today approved funding to provide more than 2850 children with food vouchers to support them this half-term.
The council is providing almost £43,000 of emergency funding to continue supporting children with free school meals, for children who normally receive free school meals during term-time. This is on top of the £9000 previously spent on free school meals from the emergency fund set up to support individuals and families during the pandemic.
The council has put in place emergency funding for October half-term and will be seeking support from the Government and bringing forward proposals for further support during Christmas, February half-term and Easter.
Schools will be in touch with the families of those children that are eligible to ensure they can get their £15 voucher.
Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council said: “This has been a difficult year for everyone and as a council, we have been doing everything we can to support local residents.
“We want to ensure that children who receive Free School Meals don’t go hungry this half-term. Nearly 3,000 children can access this support, with vouchers of £15 per child provided to all who are eligible for free school meals.
“Staff at the city’s schools have been incredible in supporting children and families and once again they are stepping up to help administer this programme. I am incredibly grateful for all they are doing.”
Concerns have been raised about fires which have been lit near the travellers site at Osbaldwick.
Although we have enjoyed better air quality in recent months, the gains made could be quickly lost of the York Council doesn’t get on top of the problem of uncontrolled burning.
As well as being a threat to health, smoke can cause visibility problems on highways.
There has been a further death at the York Hospital Trust. It occurred on Wednesday. That brings the second wave hospital COVID death toll to 11.
There have been 119 (ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN) new cases announced today. That brings the cumulative total to 3191
The 7 day peak (per 100,000 population) was 307.68 which occurred last Sunday. This was above the regional and national averages.
The most recent figures suggest that, while the number of cases is still rising each day, the speed of the increase in infection rates is slowing.
Heslington remains the worst affected area but there are signs that the infection rate there may be plateauing.
Council commentary updated.
The York Council commentary, published on the open data web site, has been updated today. It is reproduced below.
People with Covid Symptoms
• NHS Pathways/111 triages – as at 19.10.20 there had been 317 total covid triages in the CYC area in the last 7 days. The peak number of triages was 653 in the 7 day period to 20.9.20.
• As at 22.10.20, the Covid Symptom App estimates 1051.7 per 100,000 in York with symptomatic covid (responses from a sample of 5,219 people). The rate is rising.
Diagnosed cases (Pillar 1&2 combined)
• As at 22.10.20 York has had 3,072 cases, a rate of 1,458.6 per 100,000 of population. The rate in York is above the national average (1,221.1) but below the regional average (1,820.7).
• The PHE ‘Exceedance’ rating compares the no. of new cases over a 14 day period with the previous 6 weeks and provides a RAG rating to indicate if the previously observed trend in the no. of new cases is worsening. The latest rating for York (19.10.20) is Green.
• The rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 11.10.20 to 17.10.20 in York is 301.5 (635 cases). The national and regional averages are 176.5 and 301.6 respectively (Using data published on Gov.uk on 22.10.20).
• As at 19.10.20, the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 only) was 16.59%. The national and regional averages are 8.9% and 13.2% respectively. The number of Pillar 2 tests being carried out in York is increasing.
• As at 21.10.20 York University reported 293 individuals within the University community who were currently self-isolating because they have had a positive COVID-19 test.
• As at 21.10.20 York St. John reported 58 individuals within the University community who were currently self-isolating because they have had a positive COVID-19 test.
Contact Tracing
• Since 28.5.20 a total of 2,447 laboratory confirmed CYC Covid cases have been uploaded into the NHS Test and Trace system and 1,955 of the cases have been engaged. 7.819 ‘contacts’ have been identified and 4,682 of these have been traced.
Deaths
The two sources about deaths from Covid-19 at LA level are ONS data and local registrar data. They are derived from the same source (civil registration data). ONS data is more comprehensive as it includes deaths of York residents which have occurred and been registered outside York. Local registrar data is useful as it provides a breakdown by age and gender. The most recently available data is summarised below:
• ONS weekly data: For deaths occurring up to 9th October 2020 and registered up to 17th October 2020, 173 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (83 in hospital, 78 in care homes, 9 at home and 3 in a hospice). The number of deaths per 100,000 of population in York is 82.14 which is lower than the national average of 90.34. The most recent death reported for a York resident was in week 41 (3 to 9 October).
• ‘Excess’ deaths (ONS). In week 41 (3 Oct to 9 Oct), 27 deaths occurred for York residents, which is 5 fewer than the average weekly number for 2014-18. Over the last 20 weeks the total number of deaths in York has been 54 fewer than the average for the equivalent weeks in 2014-18.
• Local Registrar data: In the weekly data received on 19.10.20 (for deaths occurring up to 14.10.20), a cumulative total of 166 deaths of CYC residents where COVID-19 was mentioned (confirmed or suspected) on the death certificate, have been registered. The average age of the people who died was 82.4, with an age range of 53-104. The age profile of those dying in York is slightly older than the national average. 87 of the 166 were male (52.4%), slightly less than the national average (55.1%). 82 of the deaths occurred in hospital and 84 were community deaths (e.g. at home or in a care home or hospice). 72 people (43.4%) died in nursing /care homes (the national average is 29.15%). In addition 13 people (7.83%) who normally resided in nursing/care homes in the CYC area, died in hospital.
Data on deaths occurring in hospital are shown below. Deaths are initially reported for York NHS Foundation Trust which includes Scarborough Hospital and the further breakdown by site can be delayed. From local registrar data, 56.7% of COVID-19 deaths occurring at York Hospital have been CYC residents. (NB NHS Trusts record deaths following a positive covid-19 test (within 28 days) whereas ONS record deaths where covid-19 in mentioned on the death certificate so the totals are not the same).
• Deaths at York Hospital: As at 22.10.20, 139 deaths (awaiting confirmation of breakdown by hospital site) where the person had tested positive for COVID-19 and were being cared for at York Hospital have been reported. 225 deaths have been reported by the wider York NHS Trust.
Residents urged to stay safe and shop local over half term
Ahead of half term City of York Council is urging residents to help support the city’s businesses by shopping local whilst staying safe and following the latest guidelines.
Cllr Andrew Waller, Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning said: “York’s businesses need support to survive, and shopping local will enable them to be around in the long term to keep York the place that it is.
“There’s no denying that current restrictions impact daily life in many ways, that being said York’s businesses have made tremendous steps to implement safety features to respond to guidance on the current situation.”
“If we all follow the guidelines, we can protect the people and places we love whilst supporting our local economy and recognising some of the fantastic work that staff in local businesses have done to support us all over the previous months.”
Sharon Stoltz, Director of Public Health, said: “Whilst these new restrictions do place extra pressure on residents and businesses it is vital that we work together as a city and follow them straight away. This is our best opportunity to help slow the spread of the virus, and ultimately save lives.
“We know that the virus spreads largely indoors, through social contact and a lack of social distancing.
Therefore it is vital that people follow these tier 2 guidelines and enjoy York in a safe and controlled way. This includes stopping indoor mixing of households and socially distancing which if followed will hopefully see the number of cases in the city reduce.
“We must continue to wash our hands regularly, observe social distancing and wear face coverings in busy places.
“Please make sure you are familiar with the symptoms. Self-isolate if you show any of them, and book a test straight away. If you need advice or help, please visit www.york.gov.uk/coronavirus or call our help line 01904 551550.”
Johnny Hayes, Chair of Indie York, said: “York is a City of independents with over 65 percent of businesses in the City being independently run. This really helps to makes York to be such a unique place. These businesses need the support of local people to help them to survive. Shopping local is good for the local economy and sense of local community.
This half term Indie York is running Treasure Trails around many of York’s Independent businesses to attract lots of people to the city but in a way that allows for safe distancing. People can visit the businesses shop windows and every business is set up to provide Covid safe environment if you chose to shop or have a meal. Visit www.indieyork.co.uk for more information.”
The tier 2 restrictions include: • You must not meet socially with friends and family indoors in any setting unless you live with them or have formed a support bubble with them. This includes private homes, and any other indoor venues such as pubs and restaurants. • You may continue to see friends and family you do not live with outside, including in a garden or other outdoor space. When you do so you must not meet in a group of more than 6. • Visiting indoor hospitality/leisure/retail settings is restricted to one household i.e. two households must not meet in these settings (unless those two households are in a support bubble). • People are advised only to visit care homes in exceptional circumstances. Please contact the care home you want to visit before attending, to check the latest information and make arrangements. • People should only travel for essential reasons. • You can still go on holiday outside of your area, but you should only do this with people you live with, or have formed a support bubble with (dependant on any local restrictions in the area you are visiting). • People can play a team sport only where this is formally organised by a sports club or similar organisation, and sports-governing body guidance has been issued. • People should not attend amateur or professional sporting events as a spectators. • Wedding receptions and celebrations can continue for up to 15 people in the form of a sit-down meal and in a Covid-secure setting, not in a private dwelling. • Up to 30 people can attend a funeral, and 15 for a wake in a Covid-secure setting, not in a private dwelling.
To learn more about the new measures and what support is available, please visit www.york.gov.uk/Coronavirus
Council awaits government guidance on grants – and promises to repeat swift payment
City of York Council has assured the city’s businesses that it will publish details as soon the government provides councils with guidance on the latest business support scheme.
The council will work to get the new government grants into business’ bank accounts as quickly as possible.
The council was one of the fastest in the country to pay out the original coronavirus grants, part of a swift response which protected jobs and businesses across the city. Following extensive lobbying efforts from the city’s businesses, City of York Council, and regional partners, the government announced further grants for businesses affected by the pandemic, even if they have not been forced to closed.
Following yesterday’s announcement from the Chancellor for the Exchequer the council is awaiting the detail, and in the coming days will share more information as to how businesses can access the support.
Cllr Andrew Waller, executive member for the economy and strategic planning, said: “We have spent the last few months actively lobbying for more urgent and comprehensive support for both the hospitality industry as well as those businesses, who have found themselves excluded from Government support, particularly those with higher rateable values. The Council has been using the resources available to retain employment in the city and support businesses across as many sectors as possible.
With half-term coming up York Library have some special treats for children of all ages.
Storyteller John Kirk is going to be appearing on YouTube live with an exclusive telling of Roald Dahl’s The Twits on 24 October and again with Spooky Stories for Halloweenies on 31 October.
The sessions are free, but people need to register to receive the YouTube link see below.
Our partners at Hoglets have created 6 exclusive online storytimes for the under-fives featuring stories from around the world for children, every Tuesday morning from 27 October on our YouTube channel.
We have a page on our website dedicated to bringing you information about reading, fun and learning for children and families, including our Bloodaxe Challenge in partnership with the Jorvik Viking Centre, Mumbler’s Halloween Train and online stories and activities.
