Hospital patient numbers are continuing to rise with four people now in intensive care. During past waves of the virus, hospital patient numbers have tended to peak about 3 weeks after case numbers reached their maximum.
Taking the start date of the present infection wave as 1st June 2021, there has been one COVID related death of a York resident recorded since then (the hospital death figures above cover a wider geographical area).
The cumulative death toll among York residents remains at 379 following the publication by the government of an update covering the period ending 16th July 2021
Test results
87 positive test results today. Brings the cumulative total to 17,049
Case numbers have reduced by 114; from 749 to 635
The rate /100k population has fallen to 301.51.
The reduction in case numbers is largely following the pattern seen in January. This levelled off after two or three weeks. The decline then became slower for a couple of months. There are early signs that the present sharp reduction in the number of cases in the City may also become less pronounced as we move into August.
Neighbourhoods
Only 4 neighbourhoods with very high infection rates now. Case numbers are reducing in each of them
Vaccinations
474 vaccinations were completed yesterday (Tuesday)
Tests
7513 PCR tests were completed during the week ending 23rd July.
Of these, 9.1% were positive. That is less than the 10.2% positivity found during the previous week.
In addition, 1873 “lateral flow” tests were completed on 27th July 2021
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.
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
Patients numbers are stable and there have been no further hospital deaths
Test results
Ten more positive test results today. Brings cumulative total up to 12,449
The number of cases in the City has increased from 52 yesterday to 56 today. It is expected to edge up to over 60 cases early next week
Rate /100k population increases to 26.6. That is the highest rate seen since 28th March.
Case numbers continue to rise slowly at national, regional and local levels. York still below the national infection rate
Neighbourhoods
There are now 11 neighbourhoods with three or more cases in each
Vaccinations
Tests
4887 PCR tests were conducted during the week ending 30th May 2021
Of these, 1.2% were found to be positive. That is higher than the 1.1% found during the previous period
2008 “lateral flow” tests were also conducted on 3rd June
According to the Council, there are 6 York University students currently isolating following a positive test. That is the same number as the previous week.
There are also 19 school children isolating. That is more than double the 8 found to have tested positive during the previous week
The data is accurate as at 8.00 a.m. on Friday 04.06.21. Some narrative for the data covering the latest period is provided here below:
People with Covid Symptoms
• NHS Pathways/111 triages – as at 31.5.21 there had been 65 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 3.6.21, the Covid Symptom App estimates 14 per 100,000 in York with symptomatic covid (responses from a sample of 3,821 people). The peak rate was 1,283 on 7.1.21.
Diagnosed cases
• As at 3.6.21 York has had 12,439 cases since the start of the pandemic, a rate of 5,906 per 100,000 of population. The cumulative rate in York is below the national (6,975) and regional (7,334) averages. Cases identified through Lateral Flow Tests will be removed if they have a negative follow up PCR test within 72 hours so the cumulative total of cases can, on occasions, go down.
• 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 (31.5.21) is Amber. 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 provisional rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 26.5.21 to 1.6.21 in York is 25.2 (53 cases). (Using data published on Gov.uk on 3.6.21).
• The latest official “validated” rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 23.5.21 to 29.5.21 in York was 24.7 (52 cases). The national and regional averages at this date were 32.4 and 38.5 respectively (using data published on Gov.uk on 3.6.21).
• York is currently ranked 85th 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 22.5.21.to 28.5.21 the number of cases in each ward varied from 0 to 7 and rates varied from 0 to 57.1 per 100,000. 6 wards had zero cases.
• The rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 23.5.21 to 29.5.21 for people aged 60+ in York was 12.1 (6 cases). The national and regional averages were 7.6 and 7.3 respectively.
• As at 1.6.21, the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 PCR tests only) was 1.73%. The national and regional averages are 2.1% and 2.6% respectively.
• As at 1.6.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 Lateral Flow Tests only) was 0.12%. The national and regional averages are 0.2% and 0.2% respectively.
• As at 1.6.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 1 tests only) was 0.5%. The national average is 0.3%.
• As at 21.5.21 York University reported 6 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 17.5.21 York St. John reported 0 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 28.5.21, 252 referrals had been actioned by the local contact tracing service. Of the referrals actioned, 235 (93.3%) were successful and 17 (6.7%) 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 28.5.21 there were 0 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) in a residential care setting in York were reported by PHE on 25.2.21 (1 home).
Cases amongst School Aged Children
• In the 7 days up to 31.5.21 there were 19 children of primary or secondary school age who tested positive (across 8 different schools).
COVID Bed Occupancy in York Hospital
• As at 1.6.21 there was 1 confirmed Covid-19 patient in a General or Acute bed. The peak number was 157 on 19.1.21.
• As at 1.6.21 there were 0 confirmed Covid-19 patients and 0 suspected Covid-19 patients in the Intensive Treatment Unit. 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 28.5.21 was estimated to be in the range 0.8 to 1.0. The previous estimate was (0.8 to 1.0) on 21.5.21.
Variant of Concern
• Data from Public Health England shows that in York, up to 2.6.21, there have been less than five confirmed cases of the Delta Variant of Concern (VOC-21APR-02) which was first identified in India.
Total Vaccinations
• As at 2.6.21 a total of 119,722 CYC residents have had the first dose of the vaccine. This represents 56.8% of the estimated total population of York and 68.8% of the estimated adult (18+) population of York.
• As at 2.6.21 a total of 79,477 CYC residents have had both doses of the vaccine. This represents 37.7% of the estimated total population of York and 45.7% 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 20: 15.5.21 to 21.5.21) 0 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents. In weeks 17, 18 and 19 there had been 1, 0 and 0 deaths respectively.
• ONS Cumulative data: Since the start of the pandemic, for deaths occurring up to 8th May 2021 and registered up to 29th May 2021, 396 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (228 in hospital, 135 in care homes, 25 at home/elsewhere and 8 in a hospice). The number of deaths per 100,000 of population in York is 188.02 which is lower than the national average of 232.28
• 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 (79.5% were aged 75+ compared with 73% nationally). 47.9% of the CYC residents who died were male. The national average is 54.4%.
