Coronavirus York updates; 30th May 2021

Test results

Seven positive test results today. Brings total to 12,407

Case numbers have increased from 32 to 39

The rate /100k population has risen to 18.52. It is set to hit 22.0 on Tuesday.

We have compared the movement seen in infection rates in May 2021 with those seen in May 2020.

In May 2020 “lockdown” 1 ended on 13th May. The infection rate showed a steady reduction during the month and was to remain low until September. Some commentators observed that the virus apparently didn’t like sunny weather!

This year “lockdown” was eased gradually in March and April with many of the remaining restrictions removed on 17th May. The infection rate has slowly increased during this May.

There is one major difference though.

In May 2020, thirty-six York residents lost their lives in hospital to the disease.

There have been no fatalities announced by the York Hospital Trust in May 2021

Neighbourhoods

The majority of the cases in the City are focused in just 5 neighbourhoods

Vaccinations

  • 67.3% of adult York residents have now received their first vaccination
  • 44.0% have also had their second jab

Tests

  • 4601 PCR tests were conducted during the week ending 25th May 2021
  • Of these 0.7% were positive. That represents an increase on the previous days figure of 0.6%
  • 1093 “lateral flow” tests were also conducted on 29th May

Coronavirus York updates; 5th March 2021

Deaths

Two additional hospital deaths have been announced today. One occurred on Monday and one on Wednesday

Test Results

Thirteen additional positive test results were announced today. Brings cumulative total to 11,930

The number of cases in the City has fallen from 123 yesterday to 112 today.

The rate per /100k population has fallen to 53.18. That is the lowest rate recorded since 24th September 2020

After a small hiccup tomorrow, the rate is expected to fall to below 50 next week.

Neighbourhoods

All but two neighbourhoods now have below average infection rates.

Vaccinations

Tests

4325 PCR tests were carried out during the week ending 28th February

Of these, 2.6% were positive. That is an improvement on the 2.8% recorded the previous day

3426 “lateral flow” test were also conducted on 4th March

Hospitals

There are currently 54 COVID-19 patients being cared for by the York Hospital Trust. 7 are in intensive care.

Since the start of the pandemic 2024 patients have been discharged

Council commentary

The York Councils “open data” commentary on the pandemic is reproduced below

The data is accurate as at 8.00 a.m. on Friday 05.03.21. Some narrative for the data covering the latest period is provided here below:

People with Covid Symptoms

• NHS Pathways/111 triages – as at 1.3.21 there had been 68 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 3.3.21, the Covid Symptom App estimates 193.2 per 100,000 in York with symptomatic covid (responses from a sample of 4,476 people). The peak rate was 1,282.6 on 7.1.21.

Diagnosed cases

• As at 4.3.21 York has had 11,917 cases since the start of the pandemic, a rate of 5,658 per 100,000 of population. The cumulative rate in York is below the national (6,537) and regional (6,521) 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 (1.3.21) is Green.

• The provisional rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 24.2.21 to 2.3.21 in York is 48.9 (using data published on Gov.uk on 4.3.21).

• The latest official “validated” rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 21.2.21 to 27.2.21 was 58.4. The national and regional averages at this date were 86.4 and 122 respectively (using data published on Gov.uk on 4.3.21).

• York is currently ranked 43rd 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 20.2.21.to 26.2.21, 1 ward in York (Heworth) has seen a statistically significant fall in rates compared with the 7 day period 13.2.21 to 19.2.21. 1 ward has seen a significant rise in rates (Dringhouses & Woodthorpe). For the remaining wards there has been no statistically significant change in rates.

• The rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 21.2.21 to 27.2.21 for people aged 60+ in York was 70.6. The national and regional averages were 56.9 and 75.6 respectively.

• As at 1.3.21, the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 PCR tests only) was 3.06%. The national and regional averages are 3.6% and 5.5% respectively.

• As at 1.3.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 Lateral Flow Tests only) was 0.23%. The national and regional averages are 0.2% and 0.2% respectively.

• As at 2.3.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 1 tests only) was 1.9%. The national average is 2.3%.

• As at 4.3.21 York University 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 331 on the 19.10.20.

• As at 22.2.21 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 11,047 laboratory confirmed CYC Covid cases have been uploaded into the NHS Test and Trace system and 9,956 of the cases have been completed (90.1%). 25,655 ‘contacts’ have been identified and 19,385 of these have been completed (75.6%). Source: PHE Report.

• Local Tracing of Cases: Between 22.10.20 and 26.2.21, 935 referrals had been actioned by the local contact tracing service. Of the referrals actioned, 599 (65%) were successful and 336 (36%) were unable to be reached via phone or home visit, but guidance leaflets were posted where possible.

Cases in Residential Care Settings

• As at 4.3.21 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 1.3.21 there were 5 children of primary and secondary school age who tested positive. NB Currently the majority of York children are not in the school setting.

COVID Bed Occupancy in York Hospital

• As at 3.3.21 there were 33 confirmed Covid-19 patients in General and Acute beds. The figure a week ago (23.2.21) was 41.

• As at 3.3.21 there were 9 confirmed Covid-19 patients and 0 suspected Covid-19 patient in the Intensive Treatment Unit. The figures a week ago (23.2.21) were 11 and 0 respectively.

• As at 3.3.21 there had been 0 patients admitted with suspected Covid-19 and 1 with confirmed Covid-19 in the previous 24 hours.

• As at 3.3.21 there had been 6 confirmed patients discharged with COVID-19 in last 24 hours.

Covid Patients (CYC Residents) discharged from York Hospital

• Between 22.2.21 and 28.2.21, 21 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 26.2.21 was estimated to be in the range 0.7 to 0.9. The previous estimate was (0.7 to 1.0) on 19.2.21.

Total Vaccinations

• As at 3.3.21 64,230 CYC residents have received the first dose and 1,139 had received both doses. 30.5% of the total estimated population of York (210,618*) have therefore received the first dose.

• As at 3.3.21 17.78M In people in England have received the first dose and 0.68M have received both doses. 31.6% of the total estimated population of England (56,286,961*) have 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 7: 13.2.21 to 18.2.21) 18 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (11 in hospital, 5 in a care home and 2 at home). In weeks 4, 5 and 6 there had been 26, 18 and 11 deaths respectively.

• ONS Cumulative data: Since the start of the pandemic, for deaths occurring up to 19th February 2021 and registered up to 27th February 2021, 367 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (215 in hospital, 125 in care homes, 20 at home and 7 in a hospice). The number of deaths per 100,000 of population in York is 174.25 which is lower than the national average of 215.06.

• Local Registrar data (Cumulative): Since the start of the pandemic (using data for deaths occurring up to 24.2.21), a cumulative total of 354 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 (80.5% of those who died in York were aged 75+ compared with 73.7% nationally). 170 of the 354 were male (48%), less than the national average (54.3%).

York businesses to receive £7.5m in grants next week

March lockdown grant payments will be in York businesses’ bank accounts next week.

  • £7.5m will be in York business bank accounts by Thursday 11 March, taking the total financial support to nearly £150m during pandemic
  • Government has indicated that Restart Grants will not be paid until at least 1 April

March lockdown grant payments will be in York businesses’ bank accounts next week.

Around £7.5m of grants will be issued on Monday 8 March, landing in accounts within 3 days.

The payments relate to ongoing grants to support through the current lockdown, and not to any announcements made in this week’s budget. Following government guidance, City of York Council are paying grants up to 31 March.

Any business which has already received a payment since the new lockdown grants were introduced in November does not need to reapply.

The council is also reminding businesses that it is not in control of the timeline for paying Restart Grants. The government has indicated that payments cannot be made until the start of April at the earliest.  

Coronavirus York updates; 16th February 2021

Deaths

Spike in deaths reported at York hospital with EIGHT fatalities announced today. Two occurred on Saturday and six on Sunday. Brings the cumulative total number of fatalities since 1st September up to 335.

Test results

TWELVE positive test results announced today. Brings total up to 11,605

Rate /100k population figure has fallen to 92.11

Infection rates are continuing to fall at all levels but more slowly at the Yorkshire regional level than elsewhere.

Neighbourhoods

For the first time since 14th December 2020 two neighbourhoods both have fewer than 3 cases. They are South Bank/Dringhouses and Bishopthorpe/Copmanthorpe

Overall the number of cases in the City has fallen below 200 for the first time this year,

Tests

4582 PCR tests were conducted in the City during the week ending 11th February.

Of these, 4.7% produced a positive result. The positivity rate in the City continues to fall.

994 lateral flow tests were also conducted on 15th February

Hospitals

The number of COVID-19 hospital patients has fallen to 96 according to the York Hospital Trust.

10 patients are in intensive care.

Vaccinations

York’s pharmacy group Citywide Health is opening a Covid vaccination service at 6 Wyre Court, which is opposite Haxby Pharmacy. Invitations for the clinics will be sent out nationally by the NHS, giving access to the booking system. It will vaccinate 1,000 patients every week after its launch on 25 February

It is hoped that Citywide Health will roll out the service to all its pharmacies in York in the coming months. More

Older peoples jabs

Residents of the council’s independent living communities have been provided with Covid-19 vaccines in the comfort of their own home.

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Lincoln Court

To support the NHS’s vaccine rollout to older residents, the council has been working with a local consortium of 11 GP practices in York, Nimbuscare, to deliver this service.

In late January, 340 people across the council’s 11 independent living communities (ILCs) were vaccinated. Staff from the council and Nimbuscare ensured the vaccines were given in covid-safe conditions either in their ILC’s communal area or in their own home. Staff who work at the ILCs were also vaccinated.

Cllr Carol Runciman, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care at City of York Council, said:

“Older and less mobile residents have welcomed this on-site service, which meant they did not have to leave their community to get the vaccine. This supported them to stay at home and stay safe during lockdown and avoided them having to go out in the very cold weather.

“This partnership has meant more people are benefitting from the vaccine more quickly. I’d like to thank teams from Nimbuscare and the ILCs who worked very well together to co-ordinate this operation.”

Prof Mike Holmes, Nimbuscare clinical lead, said:

“The team at Nimbuscare were pleased to offer Covid vaccines to people as part of our city-wide vaccination service. It’s really important that people over 70 who cannot get to the vaccination centre are protected and our vaccinators were happy to help by going out to people in their homes.

“We believe that by working collaboratively we can offer a better service for the people of York. Nobody will miss out and we are working really hard to make sure that we offer everyone a vaccine in order of the national priority groups.”

Dr Nigel Wells, a local GP and Clinical Chair at NHS Vale of York CCG said:

“This is another great example of organisations coming together and working innovatively to reach out to patients in what has been the busiest ever period in the history of the NHS.”

Questions answered

York Council session. Tomorrow. Ask questions live or email them in advance to YourQuestions@york.gov.uk

A photo of York city centre at dusk sits behind text reading the event details on Wednesday 17 February, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm and the details of how to submit questions included in the message.