Deaths

Good news as, for the second consecutive day, the York Hospital Trust announces that there have been no local COVID-19 deaths

Test results

TWENTY-EIGHT positive test results were announced today. This brings the cumulative case total to 11,749.

The rate /100k population figure has increased to 68.4 (66,90 yesterday). This spike was anticipated and represents an increase in case numbers from 139 to 144.

Case numbers in York are not forecast now to fall until the end of the week

There have been similar increases at county and regional level. The blip is unfortunate given the plan (see below) to ease Lockdown restrictions The total case figures for England did reduce.

The average daily number of cases, which we are seeing now, continues to closely mirror the trends seen at the end of Lockdown 2 in early December.

Neighbourhoods

The spike in numbers means that four neighbourhoods are now above the 100 case rate threshold.

On the other hand, we now have four areas with fewer than 3 cases in each!

Vaccinations

Tests

4477 PCR tests were conducted during the week ending 17th February.

Of these, 3.4% were found to be positive (the same as yesterday)

1545 “lateral flow” test were carried out on 21st February

Lockdown changes

According to the government, the unlocking will be done in stages.

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Step One: 8 March and 29 March

8 March

• All schools and colleges in England will reopen, while all childcare can resume

• Secondary school pupils will have to wear facemasks initially while staff in all schools are advised to wear masks.

• All secondary and college pupils will be tested twice a week

• One person will be able to meet one other person from another household outside for recreation, not just exercise

• This includes meeting in private gardens and will mean two people can meet for a picnic or sit on a bench with a coffee but they cannot play tennis or golf

• Care home residents will be allowed one named visitor.

29 March

• Up to six people from different households or a larger group from two households can meet outside, including in private gardens

• Outdoor sports facilities can reopen and organised outdoor sports can take place for children and adults

• From this point, the government will drop the “Stay at Home” message and will instead encourage people to stay local wherever they can

• People will still have to work from home where possible and no overseas travel, apart from necessary work, will be allowed.

Step Two: 12 April

• After the school Easter holidays, non-essential retail, including hairdressers and beauty salons, can reopen

• Libraries, museums, zoos, theme parks and gyms can open – but no indoor mixing of different households allowed

• Outdoor hospitality can reopen, including pubs and restaurants – with the rule of six or a larger group from two households

• Customers will not have to buy a substantial meal to have an alcoholic drink and there will be no curfew but people will have to be seated when ordering and eating or drinking

• Self-catering holidays in the UK with your own household will be allowed

• Funerals of up to 30 people, wakes of up to 15 people.

Step Three: 17 May

• Outdoors, most social contact rules will be lifted, but gatherings of more than 30 will be illegal

• Indoors, the rule of six or a larger group of up to two households will be allowed

• Indoor hospitality – pubs, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, concert halls, children play areas, hotels, B&Bs, indoor exercise classes – will be allowed

• Large indoor performances and sporting events with a capacity of 1,000 people will be allowed

• Outdoor large performances and sporting events will have a maximum capacity of 4,000 people or must only be half full, whichever is lower

• Bigger sports stadiums will be allowed 10,000 people or can only be a quarter full, whichever is lower

• Testing will be used to support these openings

• Weddings, wedding receptions, wakes, funerals and christenings will be allowed 30 people.

Step Four: 21 June

• All legal limits on social contact removed

• Government hopes to reopen nightclubs and lift restrictions on large events such as festivals

• Testing could be used as a condition of entry

• Ministers hope to remove restrictions on weddings

• amateur sport can start up again