We reported a few weeks ago that Council owned land to the rear of Acomb Library – and which had been hijacked for use as a building compound – was now available once again for its original purpose.
The and had been purchased by the Council over 10 years ago to establish a “one stop shop” for public services as part of a plan to expand the library site. The need for a local Council base became more urgent when the Acomb Housing Office was subsequently closed in 2013.
Nothing much happened on the site until the new Liberal Democrat led Council announced a plan to invest £4 million in the library sites at Acomb and Clifton. That was two years ago. Things once again have fallen silent in the interim.
It appears though, from a progress reportbeing considered by the Council next week, that plans for the site have already been drawn up.
York Council Acomb Library expansion update report April 2021
No public consultation has taken place and the Front Street survey – which ended a few days ago – failed to offer any options for the library site.
The original aspiration was for housing estate managers, the police, the NHS and neighbourhood workers to have a base at the new building. It remains to be seen whether this concept will be pursued.
In the interim the Council has constructed a new small housing office as part of the Lincoln Court redevelopment.
The land to the rear of Chancery Court (not Council owned) would have been landscaped as part of the project.
It was hoped that many more residents would make use of the Front Street facility as a result of the new investment. It would become a natural “hub” for the local community.
Apparently, the early plans for the site have been costed at £3 million. They are currently being scaled back to something “more affordable”.
The recently opened new library at Burnholme cost £4.6 million.
The Council needs to engage with potential users of facilities like these before plans are firmed up.
There have been no further hospital deaths announced today
Test results
Ten additional positive test results were announced today. They bring the cumulative total up to 12,274
The number of cases in the City has increased from 45 yesterday to 49 today.
The rate /100k population figure has risen to 23.27. This is the highest rate seen since 28th March. It is expected to rise higher tomorrow.
Neighbourhoods
There are now ten York neighbourhoods which each have more than 3 cases.
Vaccinations
Over 40’s are now being invited to book a vaccination appointment
Tests
4,438 PCR tests were conducted during the week ending 25th April
Of these, 0.7% were positive. That is an increase from the previous days figure of 0.6%
In addition 2,977 “lateral flow” tests were conducted on 29th April.
Hospitals
There has been a drop in COVID-19 patient numbers today at the York hospital
York Council commentary updated
The data is accurate as at 8.00 a.m. on Friday 30.04.21. Some narrative for the data covering the latest period is provided here below:
People with Covid Symptoms
• NHS Pathways/111 triages – as at 26.4.21 there had been 43 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 29.4.21, the Covid Symptom App estimates 23 per 100,000 in York with symptomatic covid (responses from a sample of 3,981 people). The peak rate was 1,283 on 7.1.21.
Diagnosed cases
• As at 29.4.21 York has had 12,264 cases since the start of the pandemic, a rate of 5,823 per 100,000 of population. The cumulative rate in York is below the national (6,852) and regional (7,147) 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 (26.4.21) is Red. 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 21.4.21 to 27.4.21 in York is 21.8 (46 cases). (Using data published on Gov.uk on 29.4.21).
• The latest official “validated” rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 18.4.21 to 24.4.21 in York was 21.4 (45 cases). The national and regional averages at this date were 24.5 and 45.9 respectively (using data published on Gov.uk on 29.4.21).
• York is currently ranked 68th 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 17.4.21.to 23.4.21 the number of cases in each ward varied from 0 to 9 and rates varied from 0 to 61.9 per 100,000. 6 wards had zero cases.
• The rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 18.4.21 to 24.4.21 for people aged 60+ in York was 10.1 (5 cases). The national and regional averages were 9.5 and 13.2 respectively.
• As at 27.4.21, the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 PCR tests only) was 1.1%. The national and regional averages are 0.9% and 2.3% respectively.
• As at 27.4.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 Lateral Flow Tests only) was 0.13%. The national and regional averages are 0.1% and 0.2% respectively.
• As at 27.4.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 1 tests only) was 0.2%. The national average is 0.5%.
• As at 23.4.21 York University reported 3 individuals 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 26.4.21 York St. John reported 5 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 11,412 confirmed CYC Covid cases have been uploaded into the NHS Test and Trace system and 10,310 (90.3%) of the cases have been completed (compared with 86.6% nationally). 26,749 ‘contacts’ of these cases have been identified and 20,305 (75.9%) of these have been completed (compared with 81.2% nationally).
• Local Contact Tracing. Between 10.3.21 and 23.4.21, 178 referrals had been actioned by the local contact tracing service. Of the referrals actioned, 167 (93.8%) were successful and 11 (6.2%) 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 27.4.21 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 26.4.21 there were 4 children of primary or secondary school age who tested positive (across 4 different schools).
COVID Bed Occupancy in York Hospital
• As at 27.4.21 there were 6 confirmed Covid-19 patients in General and Acute beds. The peak number was 157 on 19.1.21.
• As at 27.4.21 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 27.4.21 there had been 0 patients admitted with suspected Covid-19 and 0 with confirmed Covid-19 in the previous 24 hours.
• As at 27.4.21 there had been 0 confirmed patients discharged with COVID-19 in last 24 hours.
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 23.4.21 was estimated to be in the range 0.7 to 1.0. The previous estimate was (0.7 to 1.0) on 16.4.21.
Total Vaccinations
• As at 28.4.21 a total of 99,474 CYC residents have had the first dose of the vaccine. This represents 47.2% of the estimated total population of York and 57.2% of the estimated adult (18+) population of York.
• As at 28.4.21 a total of 42,170 CYC residents have had both doses of the vaccine. This represents 20.0% of the estimated total population of York and 24.2% 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 15: 10.4.21 to 16.4.21) 2 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents. In weeks 12, 13 and 14 there had been 0, 2 and 0 deaths respectively.
• ONS Cumulative data: Since the start of the pandemic, for deaths occurring up to 16th April 2021 and registered up to 24th April 2021, 395 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (228 in hospital, 135 in care homes, 24 at home/elsewhere and 8 in a hospice). The number of deaths per 100,000 of population in York is 187.54 which is lower than the national average of 230.84
• Local Registrar data (Cumulative): Since the start of the pandemic (using data for deaths occurring up to 14.4.21), 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 73.1% nationally). 178 of the 372 were male (47.8%), less than the national average (54.3%).
