Coronavirus York updates; 25th June 2021

Hospital patients and deaths

Two fewer patients at the hospitals today. No more deaths

Test results

84 positive test results today. Brings the cumulative total up to 13.223

The number of cases in the City has increased from 269 to 305.

The rate /100k population increases to 144.82. Trending to reach 215.1 early next week.

The infection rate in York is now well above the regional and national averages

Neighbourhoods

Only one neighbourhood now with fewer than 3 cases (New Earswick)

NB. These figures date from tests carried out last Sunday. The significantly higher positive test numbers found on Monday and Tuesday are not yet reflected in the trends shown on the graphs

The term ends at the University of York today

Vaccinations

952 vaccinations were completed yesterday

Tests

  • 6355 PCR tests were completed during the week ending 20th June 2021
  • Of these, 4.4% were found to be positive. That represents an increase from the 4.0% found during the previous period). NB. At the peak of the winter wave, positivity hit a high of 18.2% (3/1/21)
  • 2949 “lateral flow” test were also conducted on 24th June 2021

Council commentary

The Council has updated its commentary on open data. It is reproduced below.

The data is accurate as at 8.00 a.m. on Friday 25.06.21. Some narrative for the data covering the latest period is provided here below:

People with Covid Symptoms

• NHS Pathways/111 triages – as at 21.6.21 there had been 101 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 24.6.21, the Covid Symptom App estimates 589 per 100,000 in York with symptomatic covid (responses from a sample of 3,787 people). The peak rate was 1,283 on 7.1.21.

Diagnosed cases

• As at 24.6.21 York has had 13,139 cases since the start of the pandemic, a rate of 6,238 per 100,000 of population. The cumulative rate in York is below the national (7,247) and regional (7,640) averages.

• 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 (21.6.21) is Red.

• The provisional rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 16.6.21 to 22.6.21 in York is 192.3 (405 cases). (Using data published on Gov.uk on 24.6.21).

• The latest official “validated” rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 13.6.21 to 19.6.21 in York was 127.7 (269 cases). The national and regional averages at this date were 101.5 and 112.7 respectively (using data published on Gov.uk on 24.6.21).

• York is currently ranked 108th 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 12.6.21.to 18.6.21, the number of cases in each ward varied from 1 to 45 and rates varied from 21.9 to 296.7 per 100,000.

• The rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 13.6.21 to 19.6.21 for people aged 60+ in York was 8.1 (4 cases). The national and regional averages were 17.2 and 17.7 respectively.

• As at 22.6.21, the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 PCR tests only) was 7.82%. The national and regional averages are 4.9% and 6.6% respectively.

• As at 22.6.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 Lateral Flow Tests only) was 0.93%. The national and regional averages are 0.5% and 0.6% respectively.

• As at 22.6.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 1 tests only) was 0.4%. The national average is 0.6%.

• As at 18.6.21 York University reported 55 individuals within the University community who were currently self-isolating because they have had a positive COVID-19 test. The peak number was 331 on the 19.10.20.

• As at 21.6.21 York St. John reported 7 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

• Local Contact Tracing. Between 10.3.21 and 18.6.21, 471 referrals had been actioned by the local contact tracing service. Of the referrals actioned, 442 (93.8%) were successful and 29 (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 23.6.21 there were 2 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 of either a staff member or resident) in a residential care setting in York was reported by PHE on 24.6.21 (1 home).

Cases amongst School Aged Children

• In the 7 days up to 21.6.21 there were 26 children of primary or secondary school age who tested positive (across 7 different schools).

COVID Bed Occupancy in York Hospital

• As at 22.6.21 there were 6 confirmed Covid-19 patients in General/Acute beds. The previous figure was 4 on 15.6.21. The peak number was 157 on 19.1.21.

• As at 22.6.21 there were 0 confirmed Covid-19 patients and 0 suspected Covid-19 patients in the Intensive Treatment Unit. The previous figures were 0 and 0 on 15.6.21. The peak number for people in ITU was 19 on 10.5.20.

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 18.6.21 was estimated to be in the range 1.0 to 1.3. The previous estimate was (1.0 to 1.2) on 11.6.21.

Variants of Concern

• Published data from Public Health England shows that in York, up to 16.6.21, there had been 171 cases (genomically confirmed or provisional genotyping) of the Delta Variant of Concern (VOC-21APR-02) which was first identified in India. More recent provisional data is available on cases where the test was processed in a laboratory which can identify Variants of Concern. This shows that in the most recent month, 93% of new cases in York were likely to be the Delta Variant.

Total Vaccinations

• As at 23.6.21 a total of 133,510 CYC residents have had the first dose of the vaccine. This represents 76.7% of the estimated adult (18+) population of York.

• As at 22.6.21 a total of 92,574 CYC residents have had both doses of the vaccine. This represents 53.2% 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 provides a breakdown by age and gender. The most recently available data is summarised below:

• ONS Weekly data: In the most recent period (Week 23: 5.6.21 to 11.6.21) 0 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents.

• ONS Cumulative data: Since the start of the pandemic, for deaths occurring up to 11th June 2021 and registered up to 19th June 2021, 397 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (228 in hospital, 136 in care homes, 25 at home/elsewhere and 8 in a hospice). The number of deaths per 100,000 of population in York is 188.49 which is lower than the national average of 232.76

• Age / Gender breakdown (using registrar data): The average age of the CYC residents who died was 82.1, with an age range of 44-104. The age profile of the CYC residents who have died is older than the national average (79.6% were aged 75+ compared with 72.9% nationally). 47.7% of the CYC residents who died were male. The national average is 54.4%.

Football pitch provision hitch could hit Lowfields development

Delays in commisioning new football pitches near Sim Balk Lane could delay the occupation of houses at Lowfields. The pitches, part of a Bishopthorpe FC expansion project, were part funded by developer contributions from Lowfields.

The Council at the time argued that the pitches would replace those lost at Lowfields.

One of the conditions attached to the granting of the Lowfields development was that the homes there would not be occupied until the new pitches had been brought into use.

It has now emerged that completion of the Sim Balk Lane scheme is delayed.

Essential work to the adjacent cycle track, – which provides a link to a parking area – has not been started.

The work proposed includes widening and resurfacing of the path down to the underpass, resurfacing of damaged areas, installation of bulkhead lighting to the underside of the underpass and the repainting of the underpass walls. There will apparently also be a a proposal for a “community mural” provided by Sustrans.

The work will require approval by the Council and is unlikely to be completed until late in the year.

The developers say that they have already installed new bins as part of the project which has helped reduce the littering issue in that area.

The planning permission for Lowfields included the following condition.

34 No dwelling within the red line area highlighted on the attached plan (insert plan reference ) shall be occupied until three replacement football pitches of the same size as those on land subject to this planning application, have been created. The three pitches shall be on land ‘To The South East Of 235 Tadcaster Road’, subject planning permission Ref. No. 18/00251/FUL. The completed works shall include all levelling, drainage, ground preparation and grass seeding works
Reason:- To ensure that appropriate replacement playing pitch facilities are provided for those lost in association with the development and to secure compliance with paragraphs 73 and 74 of the NPPF.

Application ref 17/02429/OUTM

Separately the Council claimed earlier in the week that all available properties at Lowfields had been reserved by prospective purchasers.