Coronavirus York updates; 16th April 2021

Deaths

There have been no additional hospital deaths announced today

Test results

Just two positive test results today, bringing the cumulative total up to 12,176

The number of cases in the City has increased by one to 24.

The infection rate /100k population figure is 10.92. It is expected to remain around that figure over the weekend before falling again early next week.

Neighbourhoods

Little change at neighbourhood or other levels today. We seem to be in a period of relative stability

Vaccinations

Little change in vaccination numbers by age group at neighbourhood level during the week ending 11th April. This was the period when alot of second doses were administered.

Over the last few days the vaccinators have moved on to immunise more of the under 50’s age group.

Tests

3856 PCR tests were completed during the week ending 11th April 2021

Of these, 0.5% were positive. This is the same proportion as the previous day.

2928 “lateral flow” tests were also conducted on 15th April.

Hospitals

Hospital patient numbers are continuing to decline

Council commentary

The York Council has updated its commentary on the pandemic.

The data is accurate as at 8.00 a.m. on Friday 16.04.21. Some narrative for the data covering the latest period is provided here below:

People with Covid Symptoms

• NHS Pathways/111 triages – as at 12.4.21 there had been 47 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 14.4.21, the Covid Symptom App estimates 38 per 100,000 in York with symptomatic covid (responses from a sample of 4,137 people). The peak rate was 1,283 on 7.1.21.

Diagnosed cases

• As at 15.4.21 York has had 12,174 cases since the start of the pandemic, a rate of 5,780 per 100,000 of population. The cumulative rate in York is below the national (6,802) and regional (7,056) averages. Cases identified through Lateral Flow Tests will be removed if they have a negative follow up PCR test within 72 hours so the cumulative total of cases can, on occasions, go down.

• 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 number of new cases is worsening. The latest rating for York (12.4.21) is Red. This is due to a higher than ‘expected’ number of cases on 2 occasions in the most recent 14 day monitoring period. In recent weeks the number of cases have been low in York which has an effect on the thresholds used to determine the RAG rating – a small change can mean the difference between a red, amber and green rating.

• The provisional rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 7.4.21 to 13.4.21 in York is 12.8 (using data published on Gov.uk on 15.4.21).

• The latest official “validated” rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 4.4.21 to 10.4.21 was 10.9. The national and regional averages at this date were 28 and 61.2 respectively (using data published on Gov.uk on 15.4.21).

• York is currently ranked 12th out of 149 Upper Tier Local Authorities (UTLAs) in England with a rank of 1 indicating the lowest 7 day rate.

• For the 7 day period 3.4.21.to 9.4.21, 1 ward (Fulford & Heslington) had seen a statistically significant fall in the rate compared with the 7 day period 27.3.21 to 2.4.21. 1 ward (Clifton) had seen a significant rise in the rate. The remaining wards have shown no significant change. The number of cases in each ward varies from 0 to 5 and rates vary from 0 to 49.8 per 100,000. 11 wards had zero cases in the latest 7 day period.

• The rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 4.4.21 to 10.4.21 for people aged 60+ in York was 2. The national and regional averages were 11.3 and 26.8 respectively.

• As at 13.4.21, the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 PCR tests only) was 0.79%. The national and regional averages are 1.3% and 3.1% respectively.

• As at 13.4.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 Lateral Flow Tests only) was 0.05%. The national and regional averages are 0.1% and 0.2% respectively.

• As at 13.4.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 1 tests only) was 0.4%. The national average is 0.7%.

• As at 15.4.21 York University reported 1 individual within the University community who was currently self-isolating because they have had a positive COVID-19 test. The peak number was 331 on the 19.10.20.

• As at 5.4.21 York St. John reported 0 individuals within the University community who were currently self-isolating because they have had a positive COVID-19 test. The peak number was 82 on the 8.10.20.

Contact Tracing

• Since 28.5.20 a total of 11,376 confirmed CYC Covid cases have been uploaded into the NHS Test and Trace system and 10,272 of the cases have been completed (90.3%). 26,541 ‘contacts’ of these cases have been identified and 20,152 of these have been completed (75.9%). Source: PHE Report.

• Local Contact Tracing. Between 10.3.21 and 9.4.21, 120 referrals had been actioned by the local contact tracing service. Of the referrals actioned, 111 (92.5%) were successful and 9 (7.5%) were unable to be reached via phone or home visit, but guidance leaflets were posted where possible. (NB on the 10.3.21 the local CYC team became responsible for contacting all cases rather than just those that the national team could not contact).

Cases in Residential Care Settings

• As at 13.4.21 there were 0 care homes in the CYC area with confirmed Covid-19 infection (at least 1 case of either a staff member or resident).

• The latest ‘outbreak’ (2+ cases) in a residential care setting in York were reported by PHE on 25.2.21 (1 home).

Cases amongst School Aged Children

• In the 7 days up to 12.4.21 there was 1 child of primary or secondary school age who tested positive across 1 school.

COVID Bed Occupancy in York Hospital

• As at 13.4.21 there were 9 confirmed Covid-19 patients in General and Acute beds. The peak number was 157 on 19.1.21.

• As at 13.4.21 there were 0 confirmed Covid-19 patients and 0 suspected Covid-19 patients in the Intensive Treatment Unit. The peak number for people in ITU was 19 on 10.5.20.

• As at 13.4.21 there had been 0 patients admitted with suspected Covid-19 and 0 with confirmed Covid-19 in the previous 24 hours.

• As at 13.4.21 there had been 1 confirmed patient discharged with COVID-19 in last 24 hours.

• Between 5.4.21 and 11.4.21, 4 CYC residents were discharged from York hospital after needing NHS care for symptoms linked to covid-19 infection.

R Number

• The ‘R’ value (the number of people that one infected person will pass on a virus to, on average) for the North East and Yorkshire area on 9.4.21 was estimated to be in the range 0.8 to 1.0. The previous estimate was (0.8 to 1.0) on 2.4.21.

Total Vaccinations

• As at 14.4.21 a total of 93,825 CYC residents have had the first dose of the vaccine. This represents 44.5% of the estimated total population of York and 53.9% of the estimated adult (18+) population of York.

• As at 14.4.21 a total of 25,365 CYC residents have had both doses of the vaccine. This represents 12.0% of the estimated total population of York and 14.6% of the estimated adult (18+) population of York.

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 enables a breakdown by age and gender. The most recently available data is summarised below:

• ONS weekly data: In the most recent period (Week 13: 27.3.21 to 2.4.21) 2 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents. In weeks 10, 11 and 12 there had been 3, 4 and 0 deaths respectively.

• ONS Cumulative data: Since the start of the pandemic, for deaths occurring up to 2nd April 2021 and registered up to 10th April 2021, 390 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (227 in hospital, 134 in care homes, 21 at home and 8 in a hospice). The number of deaths per 100,000 of population in York is 185.17 which is lower than the national average of 229.58

• Local Registrar data (Cumulative): Since the start of the pandemic (using data for deaths occurring up to 7.4.21), a cumulative total of 372 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 82.2, with an age range of 44-104. The age profile of those dying in York is older than the national average (79.6% of those who died in York were aged 75+ compared with 73.2% nationally). 178 of the 372 were male (47.8%), less than the national average (54.3%).

Council snubbed by government in York Central funding deal

*Illustrative York Central Masterplan approved in 2019*

The council’s “continued role” in unlocking a new generation of jobs, homes and cultural facilities in the York Central site will be considered by the Executive next Thursday, 22 April.

Funding to complete infrastructure works at the York central site (located behind the railway station) is being made direct to the landowners – led by Homes England – by the government.

It means that the Council’s role will be peripheral despite many millions having already been invested in the project. That may be good news for taxpayers who have seen projects like the Community Stadium and Guildhall refurbishment delayed and go over budget in recent years.

Now contract supervision and liability will rest mainly with Homes England.

Transparency isn’t a strong point for any of the “partners” involved in the York Central project (or the current York Council for that matter). We doubt if engagement will improve under the new governance arrangements.

The Council does remain the planning authority although that role could be undermined as they pursue “Enterprise Zone” status for the project. Planning rules are lax in such areas.

The Council is still set to spend nearly £50 million on the project and is dependent on the additional business rate income from Enterprise Zone new businesses to repay its borrowing.

The report being considered next week skates over the risks of this approach,. Those risks appear to have increased since the pandemic with office based developments likely to be less attractive for a while at least.

There are a number of significant planning issues still to be resolved.

These include the (bizarre) suggestion for making the Leeman Road tunnel one way, the absence of an attractive pedestrian/cycle access from the Wilton Rise area and continuing doubts about severing the existing Leeman Road footpath link near the Railway Museum

Last summer Labour Councillors even tried to ditch the project.

The Council has issued the following statement,

“Despite the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, the council has worked with York Central partners Network Rail, Homes England and National Railway Museum to maintain momentum and progress on the 42 hectare York Central site.

After partners finalised the £155 million funding, secured planning permission and started work on the infrastructure to unlock the site, which will deliver up to 2,500 homes and space for up to 6,500 jobs.

Executive will be asked to approve changes to the way the project will be delivered and managed.

This includes the main grant holder, Homes England, taking on the delivery of the bridges, footways, cycleways, roads and other infrastructure to open up the site.

The council will also receive £3.86 million from the government grant to cover the costs incurred advancing the infrastructure project”.

Taxi fares set to increase by 4%

A meeting next week will consider a proposal to increase taxi fares in the City by 4%.

A new fares chart is proposed (see below)

If no objections are received the new fares will be implemented on 1st May 2021.

The meeting will also receive an update report on the controversial issue of private hire vehicles – including UBER – which are licensed in another local authority area and who are picking up fares in York. The committee is being advised that this is not unlawful.

Blue Badge holders asked for views on parking

City of York Council wants York’s Blue Badge Holders views on potential new parking in York city centre.

Unfortunately the survey does not extend to suburban shopping areas like Acomb Front Street. One suggestion there is that the pedestrian area should be suspended on one day per week to allow access for Blue Badge holders.

The council says it is reviewing options to provide additional Disabled Parking locations at the edges of the pedestrianised ‘footstreets’ area. It is doing so before considering whether to make permanent the temporary changes to access arrangements introduced last year, potentially removing Blue Badge access exemptions on specific streets.

This would make the current temporary arrangements permanent, with no vehicles allowed to enter the footstreets area between 10:30am and 5pm (apart from emergency vehicles and a very limited number of service exemptions).

A separate consultation will take place over the decision. For now the council wants to understand how useful these potential additional Blue Badge parking locations next to the footstreets would be.

The new locations represent a mix of new parking bays, potential shared spaces and options to improve some double yellow line parking with dedicated bays.

The areas under consideration are:

Junction of Blake Street and Duncombe Place – next to the Visit York building and Grays Solicitors,
Duncombe Place Horse and Carriage Bay – on the road leading to the Minster,
St Andrewgate – the road leading down the side of Barnitt’s onto King’s Square,
St Andrews Place, off St Andrewgate,
Deangate – between the Cross Keys and the Minster,
Stonebow – outside Calvert’s carpets,
St Denys Road – near St Denys’ Church,
Cumberland Street – by the York Opera House,
Lord Mayor’s Walk – alongside the wall near Monk Bar,
St Leonard’s Place – near the De Grey Rooms.

As part of the consultation, the council is also talking to other users of these spaces, including taxi associations, neighbouring businesses and residents.