Coronavirus York updates; 8th April 2021

Deaths

The latest ONS figures, covering the number of deaths of York residents attributable to COVID-19, have been published.

During the week ending 26th March NO fatalities were recorded.

This is the first week since 2nd October 2020 when there has been a zero death toll.

Since the start of the pandemic there have been 125 deaths in care homes in the City, 219 in hospitals, 21 at home and 8 in a hospice.

In total the pandemic has seen 373 fatalities among York residents.

One additional death was announced by the York Hospital Trust today. The fatality occurred on Tuesday (6th April)

Test Results

Six more positive test results gave been announced today. That brings the cumulative total up to 12,225

Case numbers in the City have fallen from 39 to 33.

As anticipated the infection rate /100k population figure has fallen back to 15.67 today. Further reductions are likely over the next two or three days

We seem to have established a virtuous circle now now with fewer opportunities for transmission of the virus – a result of good social distancing and the vaccination programme.

As a result, the decline in case numbers is paralleling the rate of reduction seen in May and June last year (towards the end of “Wave 1” of the pandemic).

See comparator graph below.

Neighbourhoods

Only two neighbourhoods now have a case rate over 50. In addition, there is one neighbourhood with a rate between 10 and 50.

The 21 other areas all now have fewer than 3 cases. Several now have zero cases.

Vaccinations

People in the 40 -49 age group should start to get invitations to be vaccinated from next week

Background slides published by York Council

Tests

3799 PCR tests were conducted during the week ending 3rd April 2021.

Of these, 0.7% proved to be positive. This is the same proportion as was recorded on the previous day.

2828 “lateral flow” tests were also undertaken on 7th April 2021

Hospitals

More good news as the number of COVID-19 patients, being cared for by the York Hospital Trust, has fallen below 20. The number in intensive care has halved to just one.

Police praise for Bank Holiday behaviour in North Yorkshire

Covid response: Please keep up “amazing effort” as we move to Step 2 of the Road Map Out of Lockdown on 12 April

Superintendent Mike Walker is leading North Yorkshire Police’s response to the Coronavirus and he also chairs the multi-agency North Yorkshire Local Resilience Partnership. These are his comments about the past week’s Covid-19 related issues including the Easter weekend…

Whilst the long bank holiday weekend was busy throughout the area, there was very little in way of police incidents or issues linked to Covid-19.

We only had to issue 11 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) during this period. All were for indoor gathering breaches, of which 10 occurred in Scarborough.

In total since the easing of the lockdown on 29 March, 14 FPNs have been issued. No incidents of note have been flagged-up during the past week.

It is pleasing that the rightfully careful and cautious Step 1 of the Government’s Road Map Out of Lockdown has gone well in our area.

This is testament to the outstanding partnership working we have in North Yorkshire and the City of York, plus the invaluable support from our communities who have experienced the collective effort to keep everyone safe during the pandemic.

As we move to Step 2 of the road map on Monday 12 April, it is now more important than ever to keep following the health protection measures while the vaccination programme is rolled out.

There is still no mixing of households allowed indoors until at least 17 May under Step 3, and the ‘rule of 6’ or two households remains in place regarding outdoor gatherings, including in private gardens.

Our policing teams will be promoting adherence to these rules while on targeted and highly visible patrols.

We will continue to use our ‘4 Es’ approach to engage with the public, explain the regulations, encourage compliance, and enforce only as a last resort when a blatant breach has occurred.

Officers and PCSOs will also be on hand to support our local authority, trading standards and licensing partners during checks on businesses such as pubs and restaurants, who be able to provide outdoor hospitality from 12 April.

This is clearly very welcome progress from the extremely worrying situation we faced just a few short months ago.

Our message to everyone is to keep up this amazing effort. Please keep doing all you can to reduce the risk of catching Covid-19 or unwittingly spreading the virus to others.

Coronavirus York updates; 18th March 2021

Deaths

There have been no further hospital deaths announced today

Test Results

Thirteen new positive test results have been recorded today bringing the cumulative total to 12,094.

The number of cases in the City has fallen by 11 from 100 yesterday to 89 today.

The rate /100k population figure has fallen to 42.26. This the lowest figure that we have since 21st September 2020. The rate is expected to fall again tomorrow when it may dip below 40.

Case rates in York have now fallen below those that can be found in North Yorkshire again. Rates at regional and national level are stable

Neighbourhoods

Only one neighbourhood now has an infection rate of over 100 (Strensall)

9 neighbourhoods now have fewer than 3 cases in each. This includes Westfield/Chapelfields/ Foxwood North which has recorded its lowest rate since last summer.

Vaccinations

95% of over 60’s living in York have now been vaccinated. There is little difference in rates at neighbourhood level with the lowest being 80% at Heslington. Fulford and the University (which also now has a very low infection rate).

We understand that the Council will be stepping up its attempts to contact those who have not responded to offers of immunisation jabs.

The inoculators are making good progress with the 50 age groups and seem to be on course to meet their Easter target of offering vaccinations to all over 50’s living in York.

It is thought that vaccination rates for under 50’s may be slower during April as a result of drug shortages.

Hospitals

The number of COVID-19 cases being treated by the York Hospital Trust has fallen to 34. Five are now being treated in intensive care. At its peak, the Trust was treating 242 patients. 2065 patients have been treated and discharged since the start of the pandemic

Tests

4021 PCR test were carried out in York during the week ending 13th March 2021

Of these 1.4% were positive. This represents an improvement on the 1.5% which were positive on the previous day.

4947 “lateral flow” tests were also carried out on 17th March

Police Coronavirus response: No time to let-up as we head towards Easter holidays

Superintendent Mike Walker (pictured below) is leading North Yorkshire Police’s response to the pandemic and he chairs the multi-agency North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum. These are his comments about the past week’s (8-14 March 2021) Covid-19-related issues and the policing arrangements for Easter time…

“Together with our partner agencies and the people of York and North Yorkshire, it is imperative that we maintain the collective effort to reduce the infection rate as low as possible while the vaccination programme is rolled-out across the population.

“We can all see that better times are on the horizon, that’s why we must keep going and not allow all the hard work and sacrifice to be undone through complacency.

“We all must keep adhering to the health protection regulations around travel and gatherings, maintaining social distance, wearing face coverings in shops and on public transport, and keeping our hands as clean as possible.

“From a policing point of view, we will continue to play our part in tackling the public health crisis as we head towards the Easter holidays.

“Each district is on with preparing patrol plans to ensure there are sufficient resources to provide reassurance and continue our ‘4 Es’ approach – to engage with the public, explain the regulations, encourage compliance, and enforce if there is no other way of dealing with breaches.

“The patrol plans will obviously reflect any changes in legislation post 29 March as part of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

“When it is safe to do so, we will welcome visitors to the county again. However, everyone can expect to see an increased policing presence as we work alongside our partners to help keep the virus at bay in the weeks and months ahead.

“Also, we expect normal policing demand to increase as the regulations are further relaxed, therefore North Yorkshire Police will utilise the Government’s surge funding provided to ensure we can respond to the public as they would expect.”

Latest enforcement data

During the past seven days (8-14 March 2021) we have issued 102 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) – the previous week’s total was 210.

This takes the total to 1,662 FPNs during the third lockdown, and 3,555 FPNs since the first lockdown on March 2020.

54 were issued to local people and 48 were issued to visitors
40 issued for being outside place of living
10 for outdoor gatherings
29 for indoor gatherings
2 for obstruct/contravene/fail to close business
20 for gathering of more than 15

Broken down into districts, the number of FPNs issues are as follows:

Craven – 3
Hambleton – 15
Harrogate – 12
Richmond – 2
Ryedale – 5
Scarborough – 50
Selby – 7
York – 8

Notable recent breaches

Scarborough was again the location for the most indoor gatherings with 18 FPNs issued. There were also two separate indoor gatherings in the town over the weekend consisting of more than 15 people – this resulted in 20 FPNs being issued. One occurred at a flat on Pavilion Square following a report of a party at 10.45pm on Saturday (13 March).

Just after 5pm on Saturday, an online report was made to the police that a group of men from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, were drinking together in a hot tub at a lodge in the York area. When officers arrived they initially claimed they were work colleagues staying together in digs, but this proved not to be the case and the five men were issued with FPNs.

At 4.50am on Monday (15 March), a VW Polo car was stopped by officers as it was travelling east on the A64 at Bilbrough. The four occupants from Leeds, two men and two women aged in their late teens and early 20s, states that they were going somewhere to watch the sun rise. They each headed home with FPNs for being outside their place of living.

Also, for being outside their place of living, two men from Hessle, Hull, were issued with FPNs when police spotted their car at the St James Retail Park at Knaresborough at 12.45am on Monday (15 March). They said they were out for a drive to get a McDonald’s meal.

Coronavirus York updates; 12th March 2021

Deaths

There have been no further hospital deaths today. The last fatality announced by the York Hospital Trust occurred on 7th March.

Test Results

Eight new positive test results announced today. That is the lowest single day announcement for 6 months.

The number of infections (7 day moving average) has increased by 7; up from 103 yesterday to 110 today

The rate /100k population has increased (as forecast) to 52.23 today. It is expected to remain stable at around that figure for the next 3 days at least.

Although it is disappointing that there has been no sustained reduction in case numbers this week, we have so far avoided the steep increase in infection levels seen when Lockdown 2 ended in December.

Neighbourhoods

Something of a surge today in case numbers in Strensall (+4). That area has tended to be quite volatile

There has been little change in infection rates at county, regional or national level today

Vaccinations

Vaccinations by neighbourhood

Tests

4207 PCR tests were carried out in York during the week ending 7th March 2021.

The proportion that were positive was 1.9%. That represents a small increase on the 1.8% recorded the previous day.

3259 “lateral flow” tests were also carried out on 11th March

Council commentary

The York Council has updated its commentary on the pandemic. It is reproduced below

The data is accurate as at 8.00 a.m. on Friday 12.03.21. Some narrative for the data covering the latest period is provided here below:

People with Covid Symptoms

• NHS Pathways/111 triages – as at 8.3.21 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 11.3.21, the Covid Symptom App estimates 85.5 per 100,000 in York with symptomatic covid (responses from a sample of 4,502 people). The peak rate was 1,283 on 7.1.21.

Diagnosed cases

• As at 11.3.21 York has had 12,029 cases since the start of the pandemic, a rate of 5,711 per 100,000 of population. The cumulative rate in York is below the national (6,598) and regional (6,624) 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 (8.3.21) is Green.

• The provisional rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 3.3.21 to 9.3.21 in York is 52.7 (using data published on Gov.uk on 11.3.21).

• The latest official “validated” rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 28.2.21 to 6.3.21 was 48.9. The national and regional averages at this date were 60.3 and 100 respectively (using data published on Gov.uk on 11.3.21).

• York is currently ranked 63rd 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 27.2.21.to 5.3.21, 2 wards in York (Dringhouses & Woodthorpe and Hull Road) have seen a statistically significant fall in rates compared with the 7 day period 20.2.21 to 26.2.21. For the remaining wards there has been no statistically significant change in rates. No wards have seen a significant rise in rates.

• The rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 28.2.21 to 6.3.21 for people aged 60+ in York was 22.2. The national and regional averages were 35.2 and 52.9 respectively.

• As at 8.3.21, the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 PCR tests only) was 1.82%. The national and regional averages are 2.7% and 4.7% respectively.

• As at 8.3.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 Lateral Flow Tests only) was 0.22%. The national and regional averages are 0.1% and 0.2% respectively.

• As at 9.3.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 1 tests only) was 1.2%. The national average is 1.8%.

• As at 11.3.21 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 1.3.21 York St. John reported 3 individuals 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 11,166 confirmed CYC Covid cases have been uploaded into the NHS Test and Trace system and 10,064 of the cases have been completed (90.1%). 25,923 ‘contacts’ have been identified and 19,627 of these have been completed (75.7%). Source: PHE Report.

• Local Tracing of Cases: Between 22.10.20 and 5.3.21, 953 referrals had been actioned by the local contact tracing service. Of the referrals actioned, 611 (64.1%) were successful and 342 (35.9%) were unable to be reached via phone or home visit, but guidance leaflets were posted where possible.

Cases in Residential Care Settings

• As at 11.3.21 there were 2 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 was reported by PHE on 25.2.21 (1 home).

Cases amongst School Aged Children

• In the 7 days up to 8.3.21 there were 34 children of primary and secondary school age who tested positive. Widespread testing of secondary school aged children took place prior to the return to school on March 8th. The majority of children who tested positive were of secondary school age and were picked up as asymptomatic cases through this testing programme.

COVID Bed Occupancy in York Hospital

• As at 10.3.21 there were 26 confirmed Covid-19 patients in General and Acute beds. The peak number was 157 on 19.1.21.

• As at 10.3.21 there were 7 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 10.3.21 there had been 0 patients admitted with suspected Covid-19 and 0 with confirmed Covid-19 in the previous 24 hours.

• As at 10.3.21 there had been 3 confirmed patients discharged with COVID-19 in last 24 hours.

Covid Patients (CYC Residents) discharged from York Hospital

• Between 1.3.21 and 7.3.21, 16 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 5.3.21 was estimated to be in the range 0.7 to 1.0. The previous estimate was (0.7 to 0.9) on 26.2.21.

Total Vaccinations

• As at 10.3.21 70,334 CYC residents had received the first dose and 3,402 had received both doses. 33.4% of the total estimated population of York (210,618*) had therefore received the first dose.

• As at 10.3.21 19.58M In people in England had received the first dose and 0.93M had received both doses. 34.8% 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 8: 19.2.21 to 26.2.21) 6 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (3 in hospital, 2 in a care home and 1 in a hospice). In weeks 5, 6 and 7 there had been 18, 11 and 19 deaths respectively.

• ONS Cumulative data: Since the start of the pandemic, for deaths occurring up to 26th February 2021 and registered up to 6th March 2021, 374 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (218 in hospital, 128 in care homes, 20 at home and 8 in a hospice). The number of deaths per 100,000 of population in York is 177.6 which is lower than the national average of 220.0

• Local Registrar data (Cumulative): Since the start of the pandemic (using data for deaths occurring up to 3.3.21), a cumulative total of 360 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 73.5% nationally). 171 of the 360 were male (47.5%), less than the national average (54.3%).

Police enforcement action

North Yorkshire Police have issued their latest COVID-19 enforcement figures. In York the breeches mainly related to indoor gatherings and unauthorised visitors to the City.

Coronavirus York updates; 4th March 2021

Deaths

No additional hospital deaths were announced today

The hospital death rate continues to fall

Test results

Eleven new positive test results announced today. The lowest single day figure for some time. Brings the cumulative total up to 11,917.

The rate /100k population has fallen to 58.4. That is the lowest infection rate seen since 8th December 2020.

On current trends, the rate may fall below 50 next week.

The reduction today represents a drop in case numbers in the City from 139 to 123.

We can now compare current trends with those seen in December. The weekly average case numbers hit a pre Christmas low of 17.43 on 8th December. Thereafter – with the City subject to Tier 2 restrictions – the rate rose steadily.

The latest weekly rate is now 17.57. It is likely to fall again tomorrow before showing a small increase.

The only change to restrictions in the next few days is a general return to school next week.

If the rate continues to reduce over the next two weeks, then that will be good news for everyone.

The infection rate is continuing to fall at all levels. The York rate is once again marginally below the North Yorkshire average.

Neighbourhoods

Fourteen neighbourhoods now have an infection rate of less than 50.

Vaccinations

The government has updated the figures for vaccinations at neighbourhood level.

The figures reveal that, by 28th February, 61,939 York residents had been vaccinated.

The differing numbers at neighbourhood level reflect the MSOA size and the age profile of local communities

*Updated regional and national vaccination figures*

Tests

4406 PCR tests were carried out in York during the week ending 27th February.

Of these 2.8% were positive. This represents a reduction compared to the previous days figure

2697 “lateral flow” test were also carried out on 3rd March.

Police enforcement

The latest stats from North Yorkshire police reveal that COVIID-19 regulations enforcement action has been taken against 31 individuals in York during recent days.

Coronavirus York updates; 10th February 2021

Deaths

Two additional fatalities have been announced by the York Hospital Trust. One occurred on Sunday and one on Monday.

In total, since 1st September, there have now been 315 COVID-19 related deaths at the York and Scarborough hospitals.

The weekly fatality rate at the York Trust hospitals continues to decline.

Test Results

TWENTY EIGHT additional positive test results announced today. Brings the cumulative total to 11,463.

Rate /100k population figure has reduced to 140.07. It remains on a trend which would see the rate go below 100 next week.

Neighbourhoods

Little change today at neighbourhood level.

Highest case rate is still in New Earwick

The lowest is in South Bank/Dringhouses

Vaccinations

Tests

5188 PCR tests were carried out in York during the week ending 5th February.

The positivity rate was 6.2% (which is marginally up on yesterdays figure).

976 Lateral Flow tests were carried out on 9th February

Police enforcement

169 FPNs issued in Force’s busiest week of the lockdown

North Yorkshire Police have issued a further 169 fixed penalty notices for breaches of the Coronavirus regulations since the 2 February 2021.

This takes the total number of FPNs issued since the third national lockdown began on 6 January 2021 to 640.

The numbers are broken down by region, gender, age and breach below.

Coronavirus York updates; 4th February 2021

Deaths

There have been four more hospital deaths announced. Two occurred yesterday and two on Tuesday. The fatality total at the York and Scarborough hospitals, since 1st September, has now reached 298.

There is however some better news as the death rate now seems to be declining.

Test results

THIRTY SIX (36) additional positive test results have been announced today. They bring the cumulative total to 11,251

The rate /100k population figure has fallen to 178.53. That is the lowest figure recorded since 21st December 2020

The rate is however, expected to rise again when tomorrows figures are released before falling again over the weekend.

York has an infection rate below the regional and national averages. It is still slightly higher than the overall rate in North Yorkshire but, on current trends, will go below the county rate some time next week.

Neighbourhoods

Good news today as the City no longer has any neighbourhoods with a very high level of cases (over 400). The number of cases in Haxby has dropped from 23 to 17.

In addition – for the first time since 21st December, we have a neighbourhood (the City Centre) with a case rate of less than 50

Things may change again tomorrow when we are expecting a spike in cases, but hopefully next week more neighbourhoods will fall below the 200 case rate threshold.

Vaccinations

National and regional

Hospitals

According to latest government figures, there are 175 COVID-19 patients being cared for by the York Hospital Trust.

This represents a substantial reduction on last weeks figure which was above 200.

Twelve are in intensive care

Tests

5407 PCR test were completed during the week ending 30th January in the City. 7.8% of the tests were positive. The positivity rate continues to fall

1725 lateral flow test were completed yesterday (3rd)

Police enforcement

North Yorkshire Police have issued a further 143 FPNs for breaches of the Coronavirus regulations since the 26 January 2021.

This takes the total number of FPNs issued since the third national lockdown began on 6 January 2021 to 471.

The numbers are broken down by region, gender, age and breach below.

The total number of notices issued in York since 6th January 2021 has been 114. Most were for unlawful indoor gatherings.

…..but crime levels generally reducing

Annual crime statistics have been published today by the Office of National Statistics. Crime in England and Wales – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

Covering the 12-month period to year ending September 2020, the figures show recorded crime has decreased by 9 % percent in North Yorkshire.

Deputy Chief Constable Phil Cain, said:

“Not withstanding that for the past ten months, the global pandemic has supressed some areas of crime, such a burglary and theft, the overall figures for North Yorkshire are encouraging.

“The decrease in overall crime is also down to some significant pro-active work by a number of teams across the force.

“We believe Stalking and Harassment offences have continued to rise due to the fact victims have increased confidence in reporting it. The increase can also be attributed to the requirement to record multiple crimes where stalking and/or harassment has occurred, rather than simply one crime per incident.

“With drugs offences, the rise reflects our pro-active approach to dealing with drugs issues such as County Lines. This issue causes a disproportionate amount of harm to local communities and increases the fear of crime – this is why county lines continues to remain a priority. My thanks go to the public for providing the community intelligence which enables this pro-active work to be carried out. This intelligence is key to us achieving these results.

“Post-lockdown in the summer of 2020, we experienced a significant rise in public order offences at some of our beauty spots. We responded to this with an increase in enforcement in those areas.

“The landscape of policing will endure change as we respond to the pandemic, however we will continue to place victims at the centre of everything we do.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank our committed workforce who do their very best every day to keep our communities safe. Equally I want to thank the public of North Yorkshire and the City of York for their support during this incredibly challenging time for us all.”