Further relaxation of rules

People living alone and most single parents in England can stay at another household from Saturday. Adults living alone in England, including single parents with children under 18, will be able to form a “social bubble” with one other household

You can meet with up to 5 other people in England, but you must stay outdoors and keep 2 metres apart.

Deaths

The have been no more coronavirus deaths at York Hospital. The total remains at 126.

A spokeswoman for NHS Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said it had now discharged 500 patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 from York Hospital and Scarborough Hospital to continue their recovery.

The total number of positive COVID lab test results for York remains at 462

York preparing to reopen more of the city for residents to enjoy safely says Council

“One way system being introduced in some streets”.

Public toilets reopening

City of York Council is preparing to reopen more of the city from Monday 15 June for residents to enjoy safely, following recent changes in national guidance.

The re-opening is part of the council’s Economic Recovery – Transport and Place Strategy, to build resident, visitor and stakeholder confidence that York is a safe, healthy and attractive place for everyone to enjoy.

In line with the Government relaxing the restrictions for retailers and businesses on Monday, the council is introducing a number of new measures to support the reopening of our city.

From Monday, the city centre pedestrian zones will be extended to support local businesses, providing residents with more space to social distance, making access to shops and businesses easier.

The council is also exploring a further extension of the pedestrian zone hours into the evening, to coincide with the reopening of our cafes, bars and restaurants. This could include pedestrian areas being opened up to help businesses operate outside, to ensure space for social distancing.

New safety and guidance street signs/floor stickers and markings are being placed across the city centre for pedestrians. This will be extended to York’s secondary shopping areas, which could include areas like Haxby and Acomb.

Signage will be placed at key areas on footstreets and the highway to provide guidance on which routes are one way, where to keep left and where to social distance.

The same signage is included and has been shared as part of a comprehensive guidance for retailers wishing to welcome customers from 15 June.

All the pack contents and many more designs and posters, including resources for display within staff areas, are available to businesses to download and print.

To receive one of these packs for free, businesses, charities and other organisations welcoming customers are advised to register at www.york.gov.uk/BusinessToolkit . The packs will be available to collect on 12 and 13 June this week from convenient locations. Please register by midday Thursday for a collection on Friday.

Public toilets

To coincide with many retailers and businesses reopening their doors, the council is also reopening its public toilets on the Monday 15 June.

To find a full list and locations of the council’s public toilets, visit: www.york.gov.uk/publictoilets

Changes have been made in the toilets to protect members of the public and staff, including:

• automatic flushes
• automatic water and soap dispensers
• replacing hand dryers (which cannot be used) with hand towels
• more regular and increased cleaning

Clear guidance has also been placed in all toilets, including:

• social distancing floor stickers
• advice on how to wash hands or use hand santiser
• instructions on not touching surfaces or handles and using paper towels where possible.

Residents will be able to give feedback about the plan by participating in the city-wide consultation “Our Big Conversation” helping to set the long-term vision for our city. This will be launched in the next couple of weeks

Residents can stay up-to-date with the latest proposals and Our Big Conversation by signing up to the weekly resident newsletter: www.york.gov.uk/form/EmailUpdates

To stay up-to-date with the proposals or find out more information please visit: www.york.gov.uk/letsbeyork

Live Q&A to discuss resident questions on reopening the city centre and schools

Join the next live #AskTheLeaders Coronavirus Q&A on the council’s Facebook page this Monday 15 June at 5-6pm, as the panel discuss your questions and comments about the city’s response to Coronavirus

This next question and answer session will discuss your questions, with a special focus on the further re-opening of city centre businesses, phasing children’s return to school and how York will do this safely.

Residents can watch live on Facebook to hear from:

• Cllr Paula Widdowson,  Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change
• Cllr Ian Cuthbertson, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education
• Cllr Andrew Waller, Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning
• Sharon Stoltz, Director of Public Health
• Amanda Hatton, Director of Children, Education and Communities
• Maxine Squire, Assistant Director of Education and Skills
• James Gilchrist, Assistant Director for Transport, Highways and Environment
• Andrew Lowson, Executive Director, York BID

In this, the council’s third live coronavirus question and answer session, special guest Andrew Lowson from York BID will be taking questions regarding next week’s further re-opening of the city centre as restrictions lift to allow non-essential business to open.

How can I get involved?

Residents 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.

Birth registration resumes for new parents

Following updated government guidance and the installation of several health and safety measures, York Register Office is opening for birth registrations from Monday 15 June, by appointment only.

The Register Office will not be open to the public for any other reason, until further government guidance is given, in order to reduce the chance of infection.

To start with, we want to give priority to those whose babies were born earlier in the year who have been unable to register until now and are asking that new parents yet to register a birth on or before 23 March book an appointment.

In the coming weeks new mums and dads of babies born after 23 March will also be able to book an appointment to register the birth. We will provide further updates on our website and social media.

Parents are asked to contact the Register Office to let us know you need an appointment by emailing registerabirth@york.gov.uk. When sending the email, please provide your baby’s date of birth, parents’ names and a telephone number for us to call you on to set a time for your appointment.

Those unable to email can call 01904 654477.

A number of safety measures have been put in place to allow the Register Office to undertake registrations:

• Perspex screens have been installed in the interview rooms
• Hand sanitiser is available in all areas
• Regular disinfecting of the office throughout the day
• A one way in/out system has been introduced with clear directional signage to the interview rooms and exit point
• Reduced the need to touch surfaces at the office including doors. 

People are asked not to attend their appointment if they:

• have any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 – continuous cough, fever or loss of taste and smell
• are living with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19

Those who are shielding should follow the advice they have received from their GP and or the government. The latest information for those shielding is available at www.gov.uk/coronavirus

The Register Office is closely monitoring guidance around other services, such as weddings and will update residents with any developments.