After several months of silence, a reporthas been produced on the progress being made in further automating real time traffic management systems in the City.
Called the “Smart Transport Evolution Programme” (STEP), the government funded initiative, would see a newly deployed real-time traffic model used in the City.
It will forecast road conditions 5-60 minutes ahead and could produce alerts allowing Network Monitoring Officers to make pre-emptive traffic interventions.
The Council says that the £2.8 million system would give them the “the ability to forecast near-future traffic conditions and make pre-emotive traffic interventions which will improve the overall efficiency of the road network, resulting in a greater ability to prioritise road space for users in line with the Council’s Road User Hierarchy.
This can include improved bus service schedule adherence, “with an ability to resolve issues that affect public transport services at an earlier point in time”
The system “allows York to prepare for advances in urban travel such as Connected and Autonomous Vehicles”.
“The programme will shortly be delivering a Green Light Optimal Speed Advisory trial to the A59 and A1079, a service that sends real-time and future traffic signals conditions into smart phones and cars with advice on the most efficient speed to travel safely at to get through on green”
Providing travellers with up-to-date information about what conditions they can expect to encounter on journeys should be an important part of any future travel strategy.
We therefore wish the project well.
The inability of the Council to provide even parking space availability feeds into sat. nav. systems, web sites and street signs does, however, give some cause for concern.
The programme of repairs to York’s highways network, that will take place during 2021/22, has finally been published. The programme is usually agreed in February. Work has already started on some of the listed schemes.
There is some mixed news in the report which was approved at a “behind closed doors” meeting apparently held on 23rd April.
The highways maintenance programme (which includes not just carriageway and footpath repairs but also drainage, street lighting, City Walls, flood alleviation etc,) is one of the services which most interest residents, the programme has been delegated for officer determination for some years. Thus, the reports are not subject to scrutiny and alternative ways of allocated the budget are not publicly debated.
One key sentence in the report sums up the dilemma faced by the Council.
“Notwithstanding previous levels of investment the current funding levels are not sufficient to keep all our assets in their current condition”.
In effect, the Council has decided to focus resurfacing works on busy roads. Most side roads are being left to crumble.
Some work scheduled for 20/21, including the whole of the micro patching programme in Woodthorpe, has been delayed into the current financial year.
There is some good news.
Several long term problem locations in west York, including parts of Foxwood Lane, Askham Lane near the A1237 intersection, The Green, Bradley Lane near Rufforth, the low numbered end of Gale Lane and Thanet Road are scheduled to be resurfaced this year.
But there is no allocation for repairs on School Street and the surrounding area behind the Front Street shops, nor at many other sub-urban locations.
No footpaths in the Westfield area will be resurfaced.
There is no mention in the programme of the repairs needed to off-road cycle track infrastructure nor is there any listing of how the £1 million delegated “ward budgets” will be spent.
£877,000 of the latter budget, due to be invested last year, is being carried over into the current year. At the very least residents should be given the opportunity to influence how that section of the budget is spent.
All in all its seems that the decline in maintenance standards is set to continue for another year.
Two additional hospital deaths have been announced by the York Hospital Trust today. One occurred on Tuesday and one on Wednesday
Test Results
Five positive test results today bringing the cumulative total to 12,099.
The number of cases in the City has fallen by 8 from 89 to 81. Further reductions are in the pipeline
The rate /100k population figure has fallen to 38.46. This is the lowest seen in the City since 19th September 2021
The infection rate is clearly now following a different trajectory from that seen when restrictions were eased at the end of Lockdown 2. The real test will come on 12th April when a more general easing of restrictions are expected
Infection rates are continuing to rise at North Yorkshire and Yorkshire levels. They are stable at a national level.
Neighbourhoods
Good news today as, for the first time since last summer, no York neighbourhood has an infection rate above 100.
Vaccinations
Good progress with vaccinations
Tests
3977 PCR tests were conducted during the week ending 14th March 2021
The positivity rate was 1.4% – the same as the previous day.
3100 “lateral flow” tests were also conducted on 18th March 2021
Hospitals
The number of COVID-19 patients being treated by the York Hospital Trust has fallen to 30. Four are in intensive care. 2069 patients have been treated for coronavirus since the start of the pandemic and subsequently discharged from hospital.
Council commentary
The York Council has updated its commentaryon the pandemic
It is reproduced below
The data is accurate as at 8.00 a.m. on Friday 19.03.21. Some narrative for the data covering the latest period is provided here below:
People with Covid Symptoms
• NHS Pathways/111 triages – as at 15.3.21 there had been 74 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 18.3.21, the Covid Symptom App estimates 87.3 per 100,000 in York with symptomatic covid (responses from a sample of 4,459 people). The peak rate was 1,283 on 7.1.21.
Diagnosed cases
• As at 18.3.21 York has had 12,094 cases since the start of the pandemic, a rate of 5,742 per 100,000 of population. The cumulative rate in York is below the national (6,656) and regional (6,735) 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 no. of new cases is worsening. The latest rating for York (15.3.21) is Green.
• The provisional rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 10.3.21 to 16.3.21 in York is 31.8 (using data published on Gov.uk on 18.3.21).
• The latest official “validated” rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 7.3.21 to 13.3.21 was 42.3. The national and regional averages at this date were 58.3 and 107.6 respectively (using data published on Gov.uk on 18.3.21).
• York is currently ranked 61st 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 6.3.21.to 12.3.21, 1 ward in York (Micklegate) has seen a statistically significant fall in rates compared with the 7 day period 27.2.21 to 5.3.21. 2 wards (Dringhouses and Woodthorpe and Hull Road) have seen a significant rise in rates. For the remaining wards there has been no significant change in rates.
• The rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 7.3.21 to 13.3.21 for people aged 60+ in York was 6.1. The national and regional averages were 28.0 and 41.9 respectively.
• As at 15.3.21, the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 PCR tests only) was 1.28%. The national and regional averages are 2.6% and 5.1% respectively.
• As at 15.3.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 Lateral Flow Tests only) was 0.16%. The national and regional averages are 0.1% and 0.2% respectively.
• As at 16.3.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 1 tests only) was 0.9%. The national average is 1.4%.
• As at 18.3.21 York University reported 10 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 15.3.21 York St. John reported 1 individual within the University community who was 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 11,229 confirmed CYC Covid cases have been uploaded into the NHS Test and Trace system and 10,126 of the cases have been completed (90.2%). 26,095 ‘contacts’ have been identified and 19,760 of these have been completed (75.7%). Source: PHE Report.
• Local Tracing of Cases: Between 22.10.20 and 12.3.21, 981 referrals had been actioned by the local contact tracing service. Of the referrals actioned, 632 (64.4%) were successful and 349 (35.6%) were unable to be reached via phone or home visit, but guidance leaflets were posted where possible.
Cases in Residential Care Settings
• As at 18.3.21 there was 1 care home 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 was reported by PHE on 25.2.21 (1 home).
Cases amongst School Aged Children
• In the 7 days up to 15.3.21 there were 22 children of primary and secondary school age who tested positive across 10 schools.
COVID Bed Occupancy in York Hospital
• As at 17.3.21 there were 17 confirmed Covid-19 patients in General and Acute beds. The peak number was 157 on 19.1.21.
• As at 17.3.21 there were 5 confirmed Covid-19 patients and 0 suspected Covid-19 patient in the Intensive Treatment Unit. The peak number for people in ITU was 19 on 10.5.20.
• As at 17.3.21 there had been 0 patients admitted with suspected Covid-19 and 0 with confirmed Covid-19 in the previous 24 hours.
• As at 17.3.21 there had been 1 confirmed patient discharged with COVID-19 in last 24 hours.
Covid Patients (CYC Residents) discharged from York Hospital
• Between 8.3.21 and 14.3.21, 9 CYC residents were discharged from York hospital after needing NHS care for symptoms linked to covid-19 infection.
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 12.3.21 was estimated to be in the range 0.7 to 0.9. The previous estimate was (0.7 to 1.0) on 5.3.21.
Total Vaccinations
• As at 17.3.21 79,375 CYC residents had received the first dose and 5,724 had received both doses. 37.7% of the total estimated population of York (210,618*) had therefore received the first dose.
• As at 17.3.21 21.88M In people in England had received the first dose and 1.31M had received both doses. 38.9% of the total estimated population of England (56,286,961*) had therefore received the first dose.
*using Mid-Year 2019 population estimates
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 9: 27.2.21 to 5.3.21) 4 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents. In weeks 6, 7 and 8 there had been 11, 19 and 6 deaths respectively.
• ONS Cumulative data: Since the start of the pandemic, for deaths occurring up to 5th March 2021 and registered up to 13th March 2021, 378 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (220 in hospital, 129 in care homes, 21 at home and 8 in a hospice). The number of deaths per 100,000 of population in York is 179.5 which is lower than the national average of 223.5
• Local Registrar data (Cumulative): Since the start of the pandemic (using data for deaths occurring up to 10.3.21), a cumulative total of 365 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 82.3, with an age range of 44-104. The age profile of those dying in York is older than the national average (80.3% of those who died in York were aged 75+ compared with 73.4% nationally). 174 of the 365 were male (47.7%), less than the national average (54.3%).
Council plans to “safely reopen city”
The Council has issued the following statement in advance of a general reopening of facilities including retail on 12th April. More clarity is needed on the availability of testing services.
With infection rates in the rest of the region currently higher than in York, the Council must make representations about what – if any – recreational travel will be permitted.
There are similar questions to be answered by the Universities about their timetable for increased “on campus” learning.
“With the publication of the roadmap to recovery, the City of York Council has started planning to safely reopen the city.
In doing this, the Council will focus on prioritising the health and wellbeing of the residents of York, and supporting the economic recovery of the city.
Public Health guidance will play a key role in all decisions made for the future of the city and the council focus is on protecting residents against the immediate threat of coronavirus.
Learning from reopening activities that took place during summer 2020, when the city enjoyed a large number of visitors and relatively low number of cases, together with recognising challenges from Christmas and that reopening in 2021 is taking place in a different environment, where testing and vaccinations is more the norm.”
Keith Aspden, Leader of the Council, said:
We are working with businesses and organisations across the city to make sure that when the time comes, residents have the confidence to enjoy our city centre safely.
The health and wellbeing of residents and businesses is our immediate focus, and we look forward to welcoming visitors back to our beautiful city once restrictions are lifted. We know that York has a lot to offer, and our amazing range of independent businesses are working hard to ensure that their customers can look forward to safe services at their next visit.”
Extra measures introduced in the city will include:
The installation of temporary public toilets in the city centre
Extending the Covid Support Marshalls programme until the end of June
Submitting planning applications required for temporary managed outdoor spaces
Sharon Stoltz, Director of Public Health, said:
Whilst many people will be looking forward to the easing of restrictions we must all remember that COVID-19 remains a part of our lives.
“We want to make sure that York is a safe city for all our residents to enjoy, and we need the support of residents and communities to make that happen. We are working closely with the Public Health England Behavioural science team to iteratively improve how we can keep residents, staff and visitors safe.
“For now we must carry on with ‘hands, face, space’, comply with the COVID-Secure measures that remain in place, meet outdoors when we can and keep letting fresh air in. We should get tested when needed and get vaccinated when offered. If we all continue to play our part, we will be that bit closer to a future that is more familiar.”
To help businesses safely manage outside space and better understand how to keep their consumers and staff safe by prompting COVID-19 safe behaviours, the council are working with Public Health England’s behavioural insight team in the run up to reopening the city.
They will be hosting a free webinar on Thursday 25 March, where the Public Health team will answer questions from businesses. Tickets can be booked online.
Plans to meet York’s post-pandemic skills needs to be considered
Plans to address the skills and training needs of York residents and businesses as they recover from the covid-19 pandemic will be discussed next week at a Decision Session for the Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning (23 March).
Cllr Andrew Waller will be asked to endorse proposals put forward by the city’s Skills and Employment Board* to tackle the immediate impact of the pandemic.
One-year plan: Skills for Employment in York, sets out how the city needs to respond to the changing skills and training needs of the city post-pandemic. The aim is to ensure that residents and businesses have the necessary skills and training support to meet their needs, helping York’s economy to recover, and grow, over the coming years. The plan builds on a wide range of skills support that has been developed since the early stages of the first lockdown. Skills and education partners across the city have been working together to help people through change; aligning, adapting and communicating the support available to both individuals and businesses.
Skills for Employment in York sets out five shared commitments: • York works – skills support for individuals Supporting those entering, re-entering or displaced from the workforce to re-train or upskill and connect them with good jobs in sustainable and growth sectors. • Empowered employers – skills support for businesses Supporting businesses of all sizes to access national, regional and local skills provision to help them plan, diversify and grow. • Pioneering provision – productive partnerships Working in partnership to make the most of national, regional and local initiatives and adapt local skills provision in response to emerging needs. • Education to employment and self-employment – York’s pipeline Supporting positive progressions for all by preparing those transitioning from education or re-entering the world of work for a culture of lifelong learning and entrepreneurship. • York shares – communicating the offer Developing a coherent and effective marketing and communications strategy to ensure information advice and guidance is provided at the point of need in a timely and effective way.
Cllr Andrew Waller, Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning, said: The economic impact of the pandemic is being felt across many sectors in the city, and some have been severely hit, leading to job losses.
“As York’s employment changes it is vital that support and training is available to help individuals who need it. This includes those joining the workforce from school or college, or who are older and have lost their job and are looking to find a new career. Businesses are looking to get ready for new opportunities, especially with cleaner greener jobs, and we need to make sure the local workforce has the skills needed for this.
“The one year plan is part of a wider ten year strategy which aims to ensure that York, its residents and businesses, are well placed to recover from the impact of the pandemic. “I’d like to thank the city’s Skills and Employment Board for developing the one year plan, and their ongoing work on the ten year skills strategy. Their hard work engaging with businesses, council and skills providers underlines the commitment of partners across the city to supporting York’s future skills and training needs. “
An updated list of the contracts that the York Council has awarded is available on line (click)
The awards range from £7000 for a “weed control consultant” (£58,000 is also being spent hiring a weed control contractor) to £4.5 million for the provision of electric vehicle changing points.
Over £28,000 was spent on “homeworking laptops” in February.
£13,000 will be spent on a “Review of the Covid-19 Micro Grants Scheme”
Yesterdays road surfacing works on Wetherby Road/The Green cost £8,729.
*The Brain in Hand tool is a new way of monitoring and managing feelings of stress and anxiety and is designed to help keep the day on track. It has been designed specifically for people with Autism Spectrum Conditions. It is an application for use on a smart phone or other device that is designed to help monitor feelings and help manage stress and anxiety.
Two hospital deaths reported today. One occurred on Sunday. The other occurred on 11th February and is a delayed report.
Updated ONS figures (left) show that there were 6 deaths of York residents from COVID-19 during the week ending 26th February.
This compared to 18 recorded during the previous week.
Three of the fatalities occurred at hospital, two at care homes and one at a hospice.
Test results
Eighteen new positive test results were announced today. Brings the cumulative total to 11,997.
There are 96 cases in York today, the same as yesterday
The rate /100k population is stable at 45.48 but is expected to creep up towards 50 over the next few days.
Neighbourhoods
Little change today at neighbourhood level.
Only two areas are now above 100 case rate benchmark
Vaccinations
NHS text alerts for life-saving Covid jab
The NHS will begin texting people today inviting them to book their life saving Covid jab, making it quicker and more convenient to get an appointment.
Almost 400,000 people aged 55 and over and 40,000 unpaid carers will be the first to get a text alert inviting them to book a slot as part of the latest development in the NHS vaccination programme, the biggest in NHS history.
The messages will include a web link for those eligible to click and reserve an appointment at one of more than 300 large-scale vaccination centres or pharmacies across England.
Reminders will be sent 2-3 weeks after the original alert to encourage people to get their vaccine if they have not taken up the offer.
Texts will arrive in advance of the standard letter, meaning if the trial is successful the solution could enable the NHS to react faster to changing vaccine supplies and fill appointments quickly.
Some GP-led and hospital vaccination services, which operate their own booking systems, are already using texts for invites.
Introducing them to the national booking service for vaccine centres and pharmacy-led services will help increase uptake of the life-saving jab, particularly as the NHS moves on to younger groups.
Over the weekend and yesterday more than 1.7 million people aged 56 and over were invited to book their vaccine, as the biggest programme in health service history, continues to gather pace. Saturday was the busiest day for the booking service with more than half a million appointments confirmed. Almost nine out of 10 people aged 65 and over already taking up the offer of their first dose.
People will continue to receive letters inviting them to book an appointment as well as a text alert, to ensure that people who don’t have a number registered or need information in different languages or formats don’t miss out.
People should not receive a text message or a letter from the NHS if they have already been vaccinated and this has been recorded. If people cannot or would prefer not to travel to a Vaccination Centre or pharmacy-led site, they can choose to wait to be invited by a local GP-led service.
In some cases text messages have been used by scammers to try to collect personal details from people, get them to ring premium rate numbers or enter their banking details.
The text message will be sent using the Government’s secure Notify service and will show as being sent from ‘NHSvaccine’.
The NHS will never ask for payment or banking details.
Hospitals
York Hospital Trust is treating 54 confirmed and suspected Covid-19 inpatients, which compares with 50 yesterday. Six patients are in intensive care, the same number as yesterday, and a total of 2,038 patients have been discharged
Tests
4048 PCR test were conducted during the week ending 4th March 2021.
Of these 2.0% were positive. That represents an improvement on the previous days figure of 2.1%
3651 “lateral flow” tests were also conducted on 8th March
COVID marshalls
Support marshalls contribute to falling infection rates
Marshalls’ achievements in numbers.
As part of the city’s efforts to lower infection rates, York’s support marshalls have advised over 1,000 groups, removed over 1,000 dropped masks and achieved a near 100% satisfaction rate.
The team of six covid support marshalls is funded by recovery funds, which Executive will be asked to extend from the end of March for a further six months, to help support the city as lockdown restrictions gradually lift.
The team’s proactive and well-received approach includes monitoring areas where people gather, engaging with groups and individuals to remind them of social distancing, and supporting businesses. The marshalls also hygienically dispose of dropped face coverings which could pass on the virus and hand out masks and anti-bacterial gel where needed.
Working with North Yorkshire Police and the York BID rangers, the city’s covid support marshalls have also been able to alert and advise on matters of public safety.
To date, the marshalls have:
advised 1,100 groups of people
supported 775 businesses
handed out PPE to 161 people
picked up 1,062 dropped masks
earned a 98.8% satisfaction rating from people with whom they’ve worked
This design replaces all signalling equipment at the junction whilst also making slight improvements for pedestrians crossing the junction. Transport modelling of these revisions indicate that the impact to all vehicular traffic moving through the junction is negligible however the improvements to infrastructure at the site make future upgrades and revisions to operation easier.
* A full replacement of all on site traffic signalling technology
* Pedestrian Crossing width increased to 4 metres on the Bootham arm of the junction
* Pedestrian Crossing width increased to 6 metres on the Gillygate arm of the junction
* Tactile paving on the St Leonards Place arm of the crossing to be realigned meet current design standards.
Option 2
This design looks to reallocate space at the junction from road traffic to pedestrians whilst also replacing the required signalling equipment.
Transport modelling of the redesign indicates that the changes would reduce the capacity of the junction by approximately 30%. This would see significant increases in general traffic delay at the junction and a large increase in queues which would impact on adjacent junctions across the network.
* A full replacement of all on site traffic signalling technology.
* Pedestrian Crossing widths increased to 4 metres across both the Gillygate and Bootham arms of the junction.
* Additional pedestrian crossing point introduced from the eastern corner of Gillygate to the western footway of St Leonards Place.
* Removal of the left turn lane from St Leonards Place reducing the highway into a single lane in both directions.
* Highway realigned to the East of Gillygate/St Leonards place to create a more straight ahead route for vehicles travelling from Gillygate into St Leonards Place and additional footway and pedestrian realm adjacent to Bootham Bar.
* Existing Pedestrian Island removed from St Leonards place and crossing realigned as a single stage crossing.
The consultation runs until 31st March.
Dropped kerbs
The Council is also consulting on a revised policy for approving dropped kerb – verge cross over plans.
Lack of on street parking space means that more residents will be likely to seek to make this change in the future. Installation of vehicle charging facilities as the internal combustion engine is phased out, may stimulate demand.
The new regulations are very proscriptive. They don’t permit the relocation of tree or street furniture which may obstruct access to a driveway.
A programme of providing dropped kerbs for Council owned premises has stalled over recent years meaning that verges in several streets are now badly damaged.
The Council is also consulting on the future of its Homeshare services
“Currently Homeshare matches a homeowner aged 55+ who has a spare room and could benefit from some support and/or companionship (the ‘Householder’) with a younger person who will provide 10 hours of support a week in exchange for accommodation (the ‘Homesharer’). Homeshare is free to the Householder and the Homesharer pays £160 towards the running of the match as well as any contributions towards council tax increases. Homesharer’s are fully vetted including two references and a DBS check. Matches are made based on both parties’ personalities and interests and support is offered throughout the match. Matches are expected to last for a minimum of 6 months but can be ended early if a match is not working out. For more information you can visit ourHomeshare webpage.“
City of York Council says it is preparing a strong response to a Government consultation, launched today, on the future of local government in York and North Yorkshire.
click image to complete government survey
The Council says, retaining City of York Council alongside a new unitary authority for the rest of North Yorkshire will pave the way to quicker devolution, additional investment into York and minimal disruption to Covid-19 recovery.
The consultation will consider two proposals to remove 2-tier local government in North Yorkshire:
The East/West model proposed by the six of the seven District Councils which removes all existing councils in North Yorkshire and York and merges them into two new unitary authorities;
The North Yorkshire proposal to create a single new unitary authority covering North Yorkshire County Council’s existing footprint, with York remaining as a unitary authority in its own right.
Unfortunately the on line survey form doesn’t make it easy to make out the case for “no change”.
However ,there is an “any other comments” section in which residents can say that they are opposed to handing over powers to a North Yorkshire elected Mayor.
The case can also be made there for no change at least until we are free of the repercussions of the pandemic.
With only a few weeks to go until the end of the financial year, the York Council says it will overspend by £3.7 million. Any deficit would be a charge on the Council’s reserves (which currently stand at £7 million)
Most of the deficit is blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic. Details can be found here
Council income has dropped with car parking revenue severely affected.
There are major overspends on children’s social work services including safeguarding vulnerable children with 93 local children currently subject to proceedings.
Adult social care could also overspend by £2.7 million.
There are also major pressures to bail out the indoor sports centres which are managed by GLL.
The council continues to have discussions with GLL over the cost of managing the centres during the year. The council has been required to fund the net cost of the facilities whist closed and GLL have suffered from reduced revenues when the facilities have been open during the year. The likely additional cost to the council is currently forecast to be c.£800k but the council and GLL are seeking Government / Sport England funding to mitigate this cost.
The main problems with Council housing relate to a repairs backlog and the lengthening time to relet empty properties.
The report contains a highly selective report on public service quality standards. It talks about the – entirely unsurprising – drop in bus usage.
It pointedly fails to mention the appalling decline in the standard of highway surfaces. Despite being reported long before the icy weather – and lockdown – commenced, potholes were only given cursory attention. The result now is that many carriageways are dangerous particularly for users of two wheeled transport.
Potholes on Askham Lane near the A1237 roundabout and others on Foxwood Lane
Two additional deaths announced by the York Hospital Trust. One occurred on Friday and one yesterday
Test results
FIFTY THREE positive test results announced today. That is the lowest single day figure since before Christmas. Weekend figures tend to be lower so there may be a correction later in the week.
The cumulative total is now 10,672
Rate /100k population has fallen to 354,69. The current trend would see the rate fall below 300 on Tuesday.
Infection rates in York and North Yorkshire continue to fall more sharply than either the regional or national trends.
Neighbourhoods
Infection rates are continuing to fall in all areas (with the sole exception of New Earswick)
Vaccinations
6,353,321 people in the UK have now received their first dose of a vaccine. 491,970 were inoculated yesterday (a daily high)
Good to see the Priory Medical Group using social media to keep their patients’ up to date.
A thread In the last week we started the process of inviting patients 75-79yrs to have their covid vaccination at the local hub. On Friday were able to start contacting patients 70-74yrs & hope to invite those in the clinically extremely vulnerable category in the coming week. pic.twitter.com/PAHbH8ihkG
FIVE (5 ) additional deaths recorded by the York Hospital Trust today. One occurred on Wednesday, one on Thursday and three on Friday. The cumulative death toll since 1st September at the York and Scarborough hospitals is now 204.
The current average death toll lies between 3 and 4 cases per day and is rising.
Test Results
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT (108) additional positive test results announced today
COVID case numbers top 10,000 milestone in York as total hits 10,054
Infection case rate continues to fall.
The current figure is 550.78 /100k population. It is set to fall below 450 on Tuesday on current trends.
The rate now seems to be falling as steeply as it was rising a couple of weeks ago
NB. The highest figure recorded, during the Autumn second wave, was 444.9 on 16th October 2020.
By 16th January 19,154 “lateral flow” tests had been completed in the City. Around 700 a day are currently being undertaken.
PCR (lab based) test numbers are currently averaging around 1200 per day.
Neighbourhoods
The majority of areas are now showing a declining infection rate
Infection rates continue to reduce at all levels
Hospital
COVID patients in York Hospital Trust
Vaccinations
3,857,266 people in the UK have now received their first COVID vaccination.
No sign of any activity at the vaccination centre on Moor Lane today. However, according to the media, it will open as a regional hub tomorrow (Monday).
Since December 2020 residents within the City of York have been invited by their GP practice to have their vaccination at the Askham Bar site. The new extension to the vaccination centre, which will give vaccinations to people within a 45 minute drive, will operate in addition to the GP-led vaccination service. York residents will continue to receive their vaccinations in line with the Government’s priority groups.
Both services will be managed by a collaboration of local GPs called Nimbuscare which has already been running the Local Vaccination Service from the site since before Christmas, on behalf of 11 York GP Practices. The site is also used as a flu vaccination site which Nimbuscare opened in October.
The NHS Vaccination Centre will be capable of delivering thousands of jabs each day. York people will continue to be vaccinated at the site.
This is NOT a drive-through site. People will be asked to park before being directed to go inside one of the new Vaccination Centre buildings.
What’s new?
The current five Vale of York Local Vaccination Services will now be strengthened by the opening of the Vaccination Centre to cover a wider area – available for people living within a 45-minute radius of the York site.
