Coronavirus York updates; 18th November 2020

Vaccination programme

There are 3 different types of vaccine

Basically, as far as the general, population is concerned, it will be “oldest first” to get the vaccine starting with care home residents, then the over 80’s

Hope is that first supplies will be available before Christmas. Facilities like the Moor Lane flu centre could be utilised

University and mass testing plans

We understand that mass testing facilities will be available at the local Universities from 30th November. The management there intend to offer tests to every student who intends to travel home from 3rd December. The “lateral flow” system will be used which provides almost immediate results (30 mins). The Universities will stagger leaving days and times in the expectation that many students will be picked up by family or friends.

The Universities are still talking about welcoming back students to the City in January.

NHS will be tested twice a week using the same system.

Targeted testing may be directed to check family members wishing to visit care home residents. Other priorities would include the social care workforce, schools, workplaces with an outbreak and later to allow events to take place.

Separately, York has “expressed an interest” to government in undertaking mass testing. This may be managed by focusing at one location but may be supplemented by local centres or even mobile facilities. The testing could continue for 6 months depending on when a vaccine was rolled out.

There is a suggestion that having a positive test (passport) may become a condition for having greater freedoms.

Deaths and test results

No further hospital deaths announced today.

“Only” 32 (THIRTY TWO) new positive test results announced today. This is the lowest for over 2 months and may be the first evidence that the “lockdown” is having a positive effect. The cumulative number of cases is now 5291.

Slow reduction in case numbers in the City continues

There was also a small reduction in cases reported at county and regional level.

There are still 5 neighbourhoods above the national case rate average. They are Heslington, Fulford Road, Wigginton, Huntington and (following a recent spike) Poppleton

Six neighbourhoods are now showing single digit case numbers.

Outbreak Management Board meeting

The agenda and some background papers for todays meeting have now been published. The meeting can be viewed “on line”

Click links to read papers

1.Declarations of Interest
2.Minutes of the Meeting held on 21 October 2020, and actions arising  PDF 153 KB Additional documents: Item 2 – MASTER Action Log – OMAB , item 2. PDF 324 KB
3.Current Situation in York  PDF 421 KB
4.Communications and Engagement (including update from campaign task and finish groups)  PDF 2 MB
5.Update from Sub-Group: Universities and Higher Education Establishments  PDF 393 KB
6.Verbal Update on Contact Tracing
7.Covid-19 Testing Proposals (presentation to be made at the meeting)
8.Covid-19 Mass Vaccination (presentation to be made at the meeting)
9.CVS and Healthwatch York Report: ‘What We Did During the Covid-19 Lockdown March-June 2020’  PDF 909 KB
10.Agenda Items for the next MeetingItem for December meeting:·        
Economic Analysis of Covid Impacts – James Farrar/Simon Brereton
11.Dates of Future Meetings
12.Any Other Business