Coronavirus York updates; 10th May 2021

Easing of restrictions from next Monday

Under the latest easing of lockdown restrictions from next Monday:

  • • People in England will be able to meet outdoors in groups of up to 30 people; and meet indoors in groups of up to six people, or as two households. Children of any age, including babies, will count towards the limit of six people indoors
  • • People will have the choice whether to socially distance with close family and friends they are meeting up with. But they are urged to remain cautious about the risks of hugging
  • • Secondary schools and colleges will no longer require pupils to wear masks in classrooms or communal areas
  • • All university students will be able to return to in-person teaching
  • • Pubs, bars and restaurants will be able to serve people indoors, while cinemas, museums and indoor children’s play areas will reopen
  • • Theatres, concert venues, conference centres and sports stadiums can reopen, albeit with limits on the size of audiences and crowds
  • • Adult sports can resume indoors and saunas and steam rooms can reopen
  • • People will be allowed to stay overnight somewhere else in the UK in groups of up to six people, or two households
  • • People will be able to travel abroad to those countries on the “green list”
  • • Weddings, receptions and other life events will be allowed to take place with up to 30 people
  • • The cap on the number of people allowed to attend funerals will be lifted, in line with how many people can be safely accommodated in venues
  • • Care home residents will be able to have up to five named visitors and allowed greater freedoms to make visits out of their homes
Image result for wedding dancing gifs

Despite the further easing of restrictions on the number of guests allowed at weddings, Downing Street said people in England will not be allowed to dance at weddings.

Deaths

There have been no further hospital deaths announced today

Test results

Six additional positive test results were announced today. Brings cumulative total up to 12,320

The number of cases in the City falls from 33 to 29.

We are currently seeing a fairly stable picture with around 5 new cases being identified, on average, each day.

The rate /100k population now 13.77. It is likely to fluctuate around 15 for the rest of the week.

The graph below, which compares the trends seen in the three COVID-19 waves, has been reset to focus on the recovery period. This highlights that there is still some way to go before infection rates are as low as was seen last summer.

Neighbourhoods

Vaccinations

Tests

  • 4005 PCR tests were carried out in the City during the week ending 5th May.
  • Of these, 0.6% were positive. This is lower than the 0.8% recorded on the previous day.
  • In addition, 4292 “lateral flow” tests were conducted on 9th May

Hospitals

Small increase (1) today in the number of COVID-19 cases being treated at the hospital

Council inundated with responses to recycling consultation

Refuse collection changes are a concern in York

It seems, for once, that the York Council has had a large response to its consultation on plans to introduce 3 weekly recycling collections.

A decision on the plan, due this month, is being deferred into June.

A report, contained in the forward decision making programme, says,

“Given the incredible engagement with the consultation and the large volume of responses, this report will be deferred until the 24 June 2021 allow the responses to be fully considered before Executive are asked to determine next steps”.

We are not surprised.

Bin emptying is one of the few public services provided by the Council that virtually everyone uses. There are unresolved issues for many residents with the proposals. Lack of storage space for 3 bins and 2 boxes was something that troubles many.

The Council has (not for the first time) boxed itself into a corner with a delay in ordering replacement refuse collection vehicles. Such vehicles have long lead in times.

A decision on bin design is needed before any vehicle orders can be placed.

In the meantime, more of the existing refuse collection fleet will reach the end of its service life, with possible implications for vehicle reliability.

On 1st April 2021 the Council  placed an order worth £400,000 for the purchase of new wheeled bins.