Coronavirus York updates; 7th June 2021

Hospital patients and deaths

The number of COVID-19 patients being treated by the York Hospital Trust has increased to three. There have been no further deaths. The pandemic total remains at 592

Test results

Thirteen new positive test results announced today. Brings the cumulative total up to 12,484.

Case numbers in City rise to 59. That is the largest number seen since 28th March

Rate /100k increases to 28.0. Infection rate trend is still upwards

Neighbourhoods

Vaccinations

The Council has written to employers in the City in the following terms

Dear Employer,

Firstly we want to say thank you for everything you have done and continue to do to help your workforce stay safe during the pandemic and to help stop coronavirus from spreading.

Business case for vaccinating employees

COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on so many lives and livelihoods and we acknowledge how difficult this past year has been for businesses.

However we are asking you to do more to help control the spread of the virus and help ensure the safety of your workforce by supporting the roll-out of the COVID vaccination programme. As well as this being the right thing to do to support the safe re-opening of the City, there is good evidence to suggest that it makes good economic sense too. A vaccinated workforce will significantly reduce levels of sickness and improve productivity and is, therefore, good for business. A business case developed by Public Health England is attached with this letter.

The vaccines being used in the UK are safe and effective and are already having a significant impact in helping to stop the spread of the virus, reducing the number of infections and hospital admissions and saving lives.

Please do everything you can to support your workforce to be able to attend a vaccination appointment by giving them paid time off work for their appointment or by allowing them to work their hours flexibly so they can get their vaccination without loss of wages. We have been contacted by a number of residents who have explained that not being able to take paid time off work is a major barrier to them being vaccinated since they cannot afford to lose pay. We are aware that some employers are already going the extra mile to support their staff but for those employers who have not yet done so we respectfully urge you to review your policies and make any changes necessary to be able to support all of your staff to have easy access to vaccination without the risk of losing out financially.

Thank you for your support. If you require any further information or to discuss what additional support we may be able to give you please contact enquiries.publichealth@york.gov.uk addressing your query to the Director of Public Health.

Yours sincerely

Sharon Stoltz, Director of Public Health, City of York Council

Dr Nigel Wells, Clinical Chair, Vale of York CCG             

Dr James Taylor, Medical Director, York Hospital

Tests

  • 4521 PCR tests were conducted during the week ending 2nd June 2021
  • Of these, 1.2% were found to be positive. That is the same proportion as were found during the previous period
  • In addition, 3890 “lateral flow” tests were conducted on 6th June 2021

Castle car park future

A Council meeting next week (14th June) will receive an update on plans to replace the Castle car park with an events space.

Contrary to expectations, most of the area would continue to be hard-surfaced. There is provision for a Pagoda style shelter. The useable space is rather less than can be found on the other side of the road in Tower Gardens.

More extensive changes are planned for the Eye of York – which would effectively become become “the rectangle of York” with space being made available for outdoor museum exhibitions.

The report recommends that “the new public realm at the Castle and Eye of York forms part of the
council’s funding bid to central government’s Levelling Up Fund, applications for which close on 18 June 2021″.

The new apartments being built at Castle Mills can’t be occupied before the Castle car park is closed according to a (frankly perverse) planning condition. The Castle car park can’t close until replacement parking has been provided. The Planning Committee has so far refused to approve the provision of a replacement car park.

We expect central government to start reducing its capital spending and borrowing shortly. We doubt whether “nice to have” schemes will get priority over essential infrastructure investment..

No updated business plan is being presented to the meeting next week.

NB. The Council has made no progress on the £5.9 million scheme to redevelop the site currently occupied by “Spark”. They are under pressure to sell the site and use the receipt to avoid unnecessary borrowing which otherwise would be necessary to fund the Castle Mills/car park part of the project.

The Council says that refined drawings may be presented to the meeting next week