126 new cases today brings the cumulative total up to 14,403
The number of cases in the City has increased from 808 to 852
The rate /100k population (404.54) has risen to over 400 for the first time since 17th January 2021. The level looks likely to be fairly stable over the next few days.
Neighbourhoods
Vaccinations
1126 vaccinations were completed yesterday (Sunday)
Tests
7742 tests were completed during the week ending 30th June 2021.
Of these, 10.9% were positive. This is higher that the 10.6% positivity rate found during the previous period.
3783 “lateral flow” tests were also conducted on 4th July.
128 positive test results were announced today. Brings the cumulative total up to 14,277
The number of cases in the City has increased from 761 to 808.
The rate /100k population is 383.65. It is trending to reach 408.34.
There are very early signs that the rate of increase in infections may be slowing. The 7 day rolling case number average (which is less influenced by weekend fluctuations in testing rates) may reach a peak early this week,.
Too soon to be sure though.
It is possible that the current surge in infection rates in York will exceed the peak seen in the autumn (442,53 on 18/10/20). We have reset one of the graphs below to contrast the profile of the current wave with what was seen in Dec/Jan. The winter peak eventually reached 670.91 on 8/1/21.
Neighbourhoods
There are now eight neighbourhoods with very high infection rates
Vaccinations
1506 vaccinations were completed yesterday (Saturday)
Tests
7587 PCR tests were completed during the week ending 29th June 2021.
Of these, 10.6% were positive. This represents a small increase on the 10.5% positivity found during the previous period.
1605 “lateral flow” tests were also undertaken on 3rd July.
Following on from our story yesterday, there has been some progress with getting cycle paths cleared of overgrowth
Workers were out on the SUSTRANS York – Riccall path today. They had cleared vegetation blockages from about 50% of the track by mid afternoon. They hadn’t reached the path near Riccall whichsuffers the worst obstructions
York – Riccall cycle path near Escrick sidings (being cut) and Riccall (still obstructed)
Meanwhile Highways England have tweeted (left) to say that the section of cycle path next to the A64 will be cleared later this month
The York Council responded today to say that the section of cycle track on Tadcaster Road next to the golf course had been cleared. Sadly, on checking today, we found that it hadn’t been touched.
One additional death reported today. It occurred on Wednesday and is the first hospital fatality since 11th June 2021
There have been no changes in patient numbers
Test Results
98 positive test results announced today. That is the lowest for a few days. Brings cumulative total up to 14.034.
The number of cases in the City has increased from 623 to 688.
The rate /100k population is 326.67. It is trending to reach 392.2.3.
Neighbourhoods
Fulford, Heslington and the University continues to be the neighbourhood with the highest infection rate.
Vaccinations
1124 vaccinations were completed on Thursday
Tests
7184 PCR tests were completed during the week ending 27th June 2021.
Of these, 9.5% were positive. That represents an increase on the 8.7% positivity found during the previous period.
2786 “lateral flow” tests were also competed on 1st July.
Council commentary
The York Council has updated its “open data” commentary. It is reproduced below.
The data is accurate as at 8.00 a.m. on Friday 02.07.21. Some narrative for the data covering the latest period is provided here below:
People with Covid Symptoms
• NHS Pathways/111 triages – as at 26.6.21 there had been 107 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 1.7.21, the Covid Symptom App estimates 554 per 100,000 in York with symptomatic covid (responses from a sample of 3,773 people). The peak rate was 1,283 on 7.1.21.
Diagnosed cases
• As at 1.7.21 York has had 13,936 cases since the start of the pandemic, a rate of 6,617 per 100,000 of population. The cumulative rate in York is below the national (7,456) and regional (7,904) 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 (28.6.21) is Red.
• The provisional rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 23.6.21 to 29.6.21 in York is 379.4 (799 cases). (Using data published on Gov.uk on 1.7.21).
• The latest official “validated” rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 20.6.21 to 26.6.21 in York was 295.8 (623 cases). The national and regional averages at this date were 160.2 and 197.6 respectively (using data published on Gov.uk on 1.7.21).
• York is currently ranked 127th 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 19.6.21.to 25.6.21, the number of cases in each ward varied from 4 to 116 and rates varied from 96.4 to 764.9 per 100,000.
• The rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 20.6.21 to 26.6.21 for people aged 60+ in York was 22.2 (11 cases). The national and regional averages were 25.6 and 32.0 respectively.
• As at 29.6.21, the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 PCR tests only) was 13.89%. The national and regional averages are 7.7% and 9.8% respectively.
• As at 29.6.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 Lateral Flow Tests only) was 1.39%. The national and regional averages are 0.7% and 1.1% respectively.
• As at 29.6.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 1 tests only) was 0.9%. The national average is 0.9%.
• As at 25.6.21 York University reported 258 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 28.6.21 York St. John reported 12 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 25.6.21, 715 referrals had been actioned by the local contact tracing service. Of the referrals actioned, 676 (94.5%) were successful and 39 (5.5%) 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 30.6.21 there were 3 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 were reported by PHE on 24.6.21 (1 home).
Cases amongst School Aged Children
• In the 7 days up to 28.6.21 there were 34 children of primary or secondary school age who tested positive (across 16 different schools).
COVID Bed Occupancy in York Hospital
• As at 29.6.21 there were 5 confirmed Covid-19 patients in General/Acute beds. The previous figure was 6 on 22.6.21. The peak number was 157 on 19.1.21.
• As at 29.6.21 there was 1 confirmed Covid-19 patient and 0 suspected Covid-19 patients in the Intensive Treatment Unit. The previous figures were 0 and 0 on 22.6.21. 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 25.6.21 was estimated to be in the range 1.2 to 1.5. The previous estimate was (1.0 to 1.3) on 18.6.21.
Variants of Concern
• In the latest month for which data is available, 708 cases in York (with a specimen date between 30th May 2021 and 29th June 2021) had been processed in a laboratory which is able to carry out the required sequencing in order to identify Variants of Concern (VOC) or Variants under Investigation (VUI). Of these, there had been 690 cases (genomically confirmed or provisional genotyping) of the Delta Variant of Concern (VOC-21APR-02) which was first identified in India.
Total Vaccinations
• As at 30.6.21 a total of 139,514 CYC residents have had the first dose of the vaccine. This represents 80% of the estimated adult (18+) population of York.
• As at 30.6.21 a total of 95,625 CYC residents have had both doses of the vaccine. This represents 54.8% of the estimated adult (18+) population of York.
• Source: PHE Covid-19 Situational Awareness Explorer
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. For both data sources a death from Covid-19 is said to have occurred when Covid-19 has been recorded on the death certificate. The most recently available data is summarised below:
• ONS Weekly data: In the most recent period (Week 24: 12.6.21 to 18.6.21) 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 18th June 2021 and registered up to 26th 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%.
Primary school pupils in York have been working with the police to spruce up their surroundings, as part of a project to encourage good citizenship and pride in their community.
Youngsters from Hob Moor Primary have joined local Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to do weekly litter picks around Hob Moor nature reserve.
They have also considered ways to improve vandalised play equipment and reduce anti-social behaviour at Chesney Park in nearby Foxwood.
PCSO Laura Harper, school liaison officer in York, has been working with the children and said they have helped make the area more attractive for residents, young and old.
“The enthusiasm and pride in their community they’ve shown has been absolutely incredible,” said PCSO Harper.
“A number of residents have stopped myself and some of the students over the last few weeks, saying how nice it was to see us working together to make it a nicer area.
“While these improvements to the community are clear to see, projects like this also encourage children to develop a strong pride in their community that can last a lifetime.
“This, in turn, can lead to less antisocial behaviour and criminal damage in communities, which is a win-win for everyone who lives and works there.”
Small reduction in patient numbers at hospitals today. No further deaths.
The last death of a York resident from COVID related issues occurred 3 weeks ago.
Test results
133 positive test results were announced today. Brings the cumulative total up to 13,936.
The number of cases in the City has risen by 45.
The 156 positive tests recorded on Monday was the highest single day figure seen in the City since 11th January 2021.
The rate /100k population is now 295.81. It is trending to reach 379.38.
Neighbourhoods
Today the table has been augmented to include the latest vaccination figures for each neighbourhood.
As you would expect there is a correlation between high case numbers and low vaccination rates.
The areas with low vaccination rates also have high numbers of people aged under 25 who have, in the main have only been getting their first jab during the last fortnight,
Vaccinations
There has been a big increase in the 1st dose vaccination totals for under 25’s
Tests
7033 PCR tests were conducted during the week ending 26th June 2021
Of these, 8.8% were positive. This represents an increase on the 8.1% positivity found during the previous period.
3617 “lateral flow” tests were also conducted on 30th June 2021.
It happens each year, but we are still waiting for improvements to maintenance standards on local cycle routes.
The media were asking earlier in the week why people are put off cycling?
One reason is poor infrastructure maintenance.
Cycle paths are particualrly vulnerable to overgrowth causing obstructions. It the growth is nettles or thorn bushes then some may simply tur back.
These are some current examples of obstructions
The cycle track between the golf club and the A1036 Tadcaster Road is now effectively blocked for many users. The A64 cycle oath near Bilbrough is also obstructed by nettles and bramblesEven the generally well maintained SUSTRANs cycle path near Riccall is overgrown. No sign yet of the badly damaged path surface being repaired.
Residents wanting to renew or build fitness lost during lockdown are being urged by a new campaign to build more activity into their lives
Health and activity experts from York and North Yorkshire recognise that many people have been less active during the pandemic. Shielding, worries about catching covid and lockdown itself have meant everyone has been affected.
The #WhatsMyNextStep partners, including York and Scarborough Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the Vale of York CCG, Age UK York, York CVS, Healthwatch York, Live Well York, North Yorkshire Sport and City of York Council, advise that if you haven’t already begun, now’s the time to start getting more active around the home!
Simple steps to building more activity into daily routines at home are recommended, within any medical advice, of course. To help residents get ideas, the partnership is offering reliable sources of ideas and health advice, to help improve muscle tone, build core strength and improve balance.
The NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week for adults. Adults should do some type of physical activity every day and any type of activity is good: in fact the more you do, the better.
