The new limit of six people will apply to social gatherings from Monday.
It will apply both indoors and outdoors, and to all ages.
Pubs, restaurants, shops and other venues will remain open, but people can only attend in groups of up to six. Venues should also allow for social distancing between groups.
Similarly, places of worship may remain open but with a limit of six people attending per group.
Rather unexpectedly, the Acomb Fair is returning to the Thanet Road Sports area from tomorrow. Events like these had been hit by Coronavirus restrictions but the organisers posters outline a series of mitigations (hand sanitisers, limited numbers, cleaning, one way system). Face coverings are not mentioned.
Thankfully the blight of fly posting which sometimes occurs when fairs are around has not happened this year.
The announcement comes shortly after the Council admitted that most of the recent new COVID-19 positive test results involved children and other young people. There were 31 new cases identified in the City between 29th August and 4th September. Hospitalisations are understood to be low although no precise figures have been revealed by the authorities.
Schools have reopened this week and University students will start to arrive in the City shortly.
There has been one additional positive test result announced today. That brings the cumulative total to 976. The trend in case numbers based on a 7 day moving average continues to increase.
There have been no additional hospital deaths
According to the government map there has been another peak in cases in the Woodthorpe/Acomb Park/Foxwood area
There have been a further three positive test results announced today. The figures confirm that during August there was as steady increase in the number of COVID 19 cases in York.
There have been no firther hospital deaths
The authorities continue to remain tight lipped about the distribution and characteristics of the cases revealed recently.
There have been an additional 3 positive test results announced today. This brings the cumulative total to 967. It also confirms the upward tend in cases identified in the City. The 7 day moving average figure has steadily increased over the last few weeks.
Two more positive test results bring the cumulative total to 961. No additional hospital deaths
The number of tests carried out has increased this week
Council background narrative
Diagnosed cases (Pillar 1&2 combined)
• As at 27.8.20 York has had 959 cases, a rate of 455.3 per 100,000 of population. The rate in York is lower than national (507.2) and regional (647.2) averages. The most recent cases in York had a test specimen date of 25.8.20 (2 cases).
• 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 (24.8.20) is Red. The rating was triggered by a higher than ‘expected’ number of cases per 100 tests twice in the last 14 days (6 cases with a specimen date of 16.8.20 and 7 cases with a specimen date of 21.8.20). We know that in recent weeks the number of cases have been low in York which has an effect on the thresholds used to determine the RAG rating – a small change can mean the difference between a red, amber and green rating. The exceedance report should not be considered in isolation but in context alongside other factors such as the recent total number of cases, COVID related deaths, outbreaks as well as changes in the local testing regime and local hotspot analysis.
• The latest weekly National Covid-19 Surveillance Report released on 21.8.20 and covering the week up to 18.8.20, showed that the 7 day rate of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population tested under Pillar 1 and 2 was 3.34 for York. York was ranked 20th out of 149 local authorities (with 1 being the lowest rate).
• The latest validated 7 day rate of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population for York is 7.12. This is for the 7 day period up to 21.8.20. This excludes cases with a sample date in the last few days due to partial data and lags in reporting. The rate in York is lower than national (11.3) and regional (15.6) averages.
• As at 25.8.20, the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 only) was 0.82% (16 positives out of 1,943 tests). The positivity rate in York is lower than national (1.3%) and regional (1.7%) averages.
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 provides a breakdown by age and gender. The most recently available data is summarised below:
• ONS weekly data: For deaths occurring up to 14th August 2020 and registered up to 22nd August 2020, 171 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (83 in hospital, 76 in care homes, 9 at home and 3 in a hospice. The number of deaths per 100,000 of population in York is 81.19 which is lower than the national average of 87.87. The most recent death reported for a York resident was in week 31 (25 to 31 July).
• ‘Excess’ deaths (ONS). In week 32 (8 August to 14 August), 21 deaths occurred in York, which is 7 fewer than the average weekly number for 2014-18. Over the last 12 weeks the total number of deaths in York has been 41 fewer than the average for the equivalent weeks in 2014-18.
• Local Registrar data: In the weekly data received on 24.8.20 (for deaths occurring up to 19.8.20), a cumulative total of 162 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 82.47, with an age range of 53-104. The age profile of those dying in York is slightly older than the national average. 86 of the 162 were male (53.1%), slightly less than the national average (55%). 81 of the deaths occurred in hospital and 81 were community deaths (e.g. at home or in a care home or hospice). 70 people (43.2%) died in nursing /care homes (the national average is 29.6%). In addition 13 people (8%) who normally resided in nursing/care homes in the CYC area, died in hospital.
Data on deaths occurring in hospital are shown below. Deaths are initially reported for York NHS Foundation Trust which includes Scarborough Hospital and the further breakdown by site can be delayed. From local registrar data, 58.5% of COVID-19 deaths occurring at York Hospital have been CYC residents. (NB NHS Trusts record deaths following a positive covid-19 test whereas ONS record deaths where covid-19 in mentioned on the death certificate so the totals are not the same).
• Deaths at York Hospital: As at 27.8.20, 134 deaths of people who had tested positive for COVID-19 and were being cared for at York Hospital have been reported. 214 deaths have been reported by the wider York NHS Trust.
York COVID deaths by neighbourhood
The ONS have published new figures today which show where COVID related deaths have occurred in the City during the period March – July.
A map showing the neighbourhood boundary can be found by clicking here
In England, the age-standardised mortality rate for deaths involving COVID-19 in the most deprived areas in July 2020 was 3.1 deaths per 100,000 population; as seen in previous months, this was more than double the mortality rate in the least deprived areas (1.4 deaths per 100,000 population).
Deaths occurring between 1 March 2020 and 31 July 2020 and registered by 15 August 2020.
Figures exclude death of non-residents and are based on May 2020 boundaries.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) was the underlying cause or was mentioned on the death certificate as a contributory factor (International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition (ICD-10) codes U07.1 and U07.2).
Appeal for surplus IT equipment
The Community Furniture Store (CFS) is collecting unwanted IT devices so at these can be refurbished and donated to people in the community that don’t currently have IT access. Almost 9% of people – over 15,000 people, living in York don’t have digital access and many of these are people that are isolated and / or on a low income – older people, people that are homeless, people with disabilities, etc
They are looking for:
Laptop computers – in working order and less than 10 years old
Android tablets/Kindles
Desktop computers less than 10 years old with associated peripherals (keyboard, monitor and mouse)
Miscellaneous peripherals – especially webcams, mouses, and keyboards
All equipment should be in working order. Devices will be fully wiped and all data removed before being setup for the needs of the new user.
Donations can be taken to the Community Furniture Store at Unit 29 on the Raylor Centre, James Street. Alternatively call 01904 426444 to arrange free collection.
THREE more positive test results announced today bring the cumulative total to 959.
The 6 cases reported on 16th August have now dropped off the government’s distribution map. This had shown that at least 3 of the cases reported on 16th August were in the Woodthorpe/Acomb Park/Foxwood area.
The latest map (covering 17th August to 23rd August) suggests that there is not a concentration of new cases in any particular neighbourhood.
The number of tests completed each day is still not being revealed by the authorities. This makes it difficult to judge whether trends are getting worse or staying stable.
The situation is now rated as RED. This is the most serious of the three gradings available. It reflects the 6 additional cases revealed on 16th August.
There is still no comment from the authorities about the location and background of the new cases announced yesterday .
The Council commentary says
2DIAGNOSED CASES (Pillar 1 and 2 combined)
• As at 20.8.20 York has had 946 cases, a rate of 449.2 per 100,000 of population. The rate in York is lower than national (494.9) and regional (631) averages. The most recent cases in York had a test specimen date of 16.8.20 (6 cases).
• 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 (17.8.20) is Red. The rating was triggered by a higher than ‘expected’ number of cases per 100 tests twice in the last 14 days (3 cases with a specimen date of 9.8.20 and 6 cases with a specimen date of 16.8.20). We know that in recent weeks the number of cases have been low in York which has an effect on the thresholds used to determine the RAG rating – a small change can mean the difference between a red, amber and green rating. The exceedance report should not be considered in isolation but in context alongside other factors such as the recent total number of cases, COVID related deaths, outbreaks as well as changes in the local testing regime and local hotspot analysis.
• The latest weekly National Covid-19 Surveillance Report released on 14.8.20 and covering the week up to 11.8.20, showed that the 7 day rate of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population tested under Pillar 1 and 2 was 4.29 for York. York was ranked 57th out of 150 local authorities (with 1 being the lowest rate).
• The latest validated 7 day rate of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population for York is 3.8 (10 cases). This is for the 7 day period up to 14.8.20. This excludes cases with a sample date in the last few days due to partial data and lags in reporting. The rate in York is lower than national (12.2) and regional (20.3) averages.
• As at 18.8.20, the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 only) was 0.64% (11 positives out of 1,710 tests). The positivity rate in York is lower than national (1.2%) and regional (1.7%) averages.
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 provides a breakdown by age and gender. The most recently available data is summarised below:
• ONS weekly data: For deaths occurring up to 7th August 2020 and registered up to 15th August 2020, 171 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (83 in hospital, 76 in care homes, 9 at home and 3 in a hospice. The number of deaths per 100,000 of population in York is 81.19 which is lower than the national average of 87.62.
• ‘Excess’ deaths (ONS). In week 32 (1 August to 7 August), 30 deaths occurred in York, which is 1 more than the average weekly number for 2014-18. Over the last 11 weeks the total number of deaths in York has been 37 fewer than the average for the equivalent weeks in 2014-18.
• Local Registrar data: In the weekly data received on 17.8.20 (for deaths occurring up to 12.8.20), a cumulative total of 162 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 82.47, with an age range of 53-104. The age profile of those dying in York is slightly older than the national average. 86 of the 162 were male (53.1%), slightly less than the national average (55%). 81 of the deaths occurred in hospital and 81 were community deaths (e.g. at home or in a care home or hospice). 70 people (43.2%) died in nursing /care homes (the national average is 29.6%). In addition 13 people (8%) who normally resided in nursing/care homes in the CYC area, died in hospital.
Data on deaths occurring in hospital are shown below. Deaths are initially reported for York NHS Foundation Trust which includes Scarborough Hospital and the further breakdown by site can be delayed. From local registrar data, 58.5% of COVID-19 deaths occurring at York Hospital have been CYC residents. (NB NHS Trusts record deaths following a positive covid-19 test whereas ONS record deaths where covid-19 in mentioned on the death certificate so the totals are not the same).
• Deaths at York Hospital: As at 20.8.20, 134 deaths of people who had tested positive for COVID-19 and were being cared for at York Hospital have been reported. 214 deaths have been reported by the wider York NHS Trust.
High Street recovery
The Centre for Cities website has publishedfigures todaywhich give a contrasting appraisal of how well York is recovering economically from the pandemic.
It claims footfall has recovered to 75% of pre COVID levels. However this puts York in the bottom 10 of cities nationwide. Blackpool (!) tops the list at 130% with London at a lowly 28%.
The site describes York’s recovery as “moderately strong”
York is above average on the “spend” index.
Weekend visitor numbers have recovered strongly
The site says that visitors to the City centre are still predominately from outside York.
Live Q&A to discuss options for school leavers
Join the next live #AskTheLeaders Live Q&A on the council’s Facebook page this Tuesday 25 August at 5-6pm.
The panel will discuss your questions and comments about further education and career options for people leaving school this year.
This question and answer session is the latest in a series that will discuss your questions, with a special focus on the next steps for young people who have finished secondary school this year following the announcement of their GCSE grades.
Residents are invited to watch live on Facebook to hear from:
Cllr Darryl Smalley, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Communities
Cllr Ian Cuthbertson, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education
Lee Probert, Chief Executive and Principal, York College
Sandra Burnhill, Vice-Principal, Askham Bryan College
Laurence Beardmore, managing director York Coffee Emporium and Vice President, York & North Yorkshire Chamber
Louisa Dobson, Louisa Dobson Outreach Hub Officer FutureHY York and North Yorkshire
John Thompson, Head of Secondary and Skills, City of York Council
Bob Watmore, York Apprenticeship Hub, City of York council
How can I get involved?
Students, parents and carers can interact with the session by either submitting questions in advance by emailing them to YourQuestions@york.gov.uk or commenting on the live video on Facebook where leaders will read out questions and respond.* Questions may be answered by theme rather than individually, so that the conversation covers as many topics as possible.
For the latest York updates on service changes, online support and how you can get involved in supporting your community visit www.york.gov.uk/Coronavirus
*Please note: Residents do not need a Facebook account to watch the live video however, they will need their own Facebook account to comment on the video with their questions (alternatively questions can be emailed to YourQuestions@york.gov.uk).
Refuses to reveal location but cost will be £1.65 million!
In one of the most bizarre proposals to come before the York Council, officials are recommending buying agricultural land “within the York boundary” which will subsequently be planted with trees. It says only that it is located in the Green Belt.
The forest scheme is intended to offset a proportion of the CO2 emissions generated within the City.
The Council says it can’t reveal the location of the new forest “for commercial reasons”.
While many residents will support the objective of the initiative, the lack of background information on the scheme is extraordinary.
There is no indication of the grade of the agricultural land in question. At a time when greater food self sufficiency is a high priority for the country, relative priorities must surely be fully evaluated before productive land is lost?
Thereport also says that the new forest – which might be designated as a “stray” – will provide new accessible paths and trails for York residents.
Officials point to the health benefits of greater exercise.
They are right, of course, as we have seen during lock-down. But the Council’s position lacks credibility as it has failed to maintain existing paths and trails, some of which are now inaccessible because of neglect.
The absence of any maintenance and management strategy for any new wood is one of the major omissions from the report.
The Council also quotes (rightly) the need to encourage pollinators (bees and other insects) but again fails to evaluate the effect that planting more woodland would have against providing – for example – wildflower meadows on the land.
In total the Council expects to spend £3 million on establishing new woodland and strays around the City.
It will need to do a lot more work, if taxpayers are to be convinced that this is an effective, and thoroughly thought through, reaction to the global conservation challenge.
NB. In the Westfield area, local Councillors promised 12 months ago to promote the adoption of “stray” status for Acomb Moor. There has been no recent update on the progress that they have made.
