Coronavirus York update; 26th November 2020

Deaths and test results

There has been a big jump in the number of COVID deaths announced today. EIGHT new fatalities have been announced by the York Hospital Trust. Two occurred yesterday, four on Tuesday and two on Monday.

The cumulative total second wave death toll at the York and Scarborough hospitals has now reached 74

TWENTY NINE (29) additional positive test results announced today. Brings cumulative total to 5576

It appears that the threshold used by the government, to determine whether an area could be given a Tier 1 classification, was that the location must have fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 head of population. Very few areas met this criteria (Cornwall, Isle of Wight).

On the last validated numbers (21st Nov) York had 132.47 cases per 100k population.

On the present downward trajectory, York would pass below 100 cases threshold before the next review date. This is expected to be 10th December with any changes in classification effective from 16th December.

During the week ending 19th November, 3530 P2 tests were carried out in York. Of these, 8.6% proved to be positive.

This was a lower positivity rate than was seen during the previous week

Neighbourhood data has now been published. There is little change from yesterday.

We have reordered the table to reflect the cases per 100k of population rate.

This is one of the the figures that the government used to determine which Tier an area was allocated into.

Essentially the City needs to have a rate below 100 to be considered for Tier1 by 10th December.

Two neighbourhoods. Heslington and Clifton Without, are well above this rate at present.

The colour coding now reflects the central government’s presentation key

Tier 2 for York

York has been placed back into Tier 2 restrictions by the government. The new arrangements start on Tuesday.

The main impact is on pubs which will have to serve meals if they are to open while households will not be able to mix indoors.

All shops, hairdressers etc will still reopen from Tuesday.

The situation will be reviewed after a fortnight and may be changed again before Christmas

Outdoor events will be limited to 2000 spectators.

This will affect York City FC who were hoping to move into the new Community Stadium at Monks Cross.

However work at the stadium is still underway today with no sign of completion in sight. The Club may look to reopen Bootham Crescent. Social distancing at an all seater stadium would be easier to manage.

An update from the York Council on the stadium situation is long overdue.

Work on the new Community Stadium at Monks Cross is far from complete.

It looks like high case rates in Scarborough may have contributed to York being placed in Tier 2 restrictions. There may be concerns about capacity at the York Hospital Trust which is also responsible for care in Scarborough. More details are available by clicking here

West and South Yorkshire have been placed into the highest TIER 3 category. This includes additional restrictions on travel to, and from, the areas.

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R growth rates government information
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Map of tier boudaries

COVID Winter Grant Scheme for the needy

The York Council will consider next week how it is to allocate the, government funded, Winter Grant scheme.

On Sunday 8 November 2020, the government announced a package of extra targeted financial support for those in need over the winter period. The COVID Winter Grant Scheme will see new funding issued to councils to support those most in need with the cost of food, energy and water bills and other associated costs.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will provide funding to the council, who will administer the scheme and provide direct assistance to vulnerable households and families with children particularly affected by the pandemic.

This will include some families who normally have access to Free School Meals (FSM) during term time.

The funding allocation for York is £416,729.

Around £200,000 of the fund is set to be used to provide meals for needy children during the Christmas and Easter school holidays (i.e. those who would normally quality for Free School Meals)

Click to access

There are already many local schemes operating which provide support to local people hit by te pandemic. These include surplus food giveaways

Coronavirus York updates; 20th November 2020

Deaths and test results

THREE (3) additional deaths announced by York Hospital Trust today. Two occurred on Wednesday and one yesterday. Brings second wave total fatalities at York and Scarborough hospitals to 52

THIRTY SIX (36) additional positive test results announced today bringing the cumulative total for the City to 5381

Most neighbourhoods remain below the regional and national averages.

There has been a spike in cases recently in the Clifton North area.

Case numbers at Heslington are beginning to fall again

Otherwise the slow gradual downward trend in case numbers continues. This is now matched at county, regional and national level.

Lockdown impact on case numbers

It may be worth remembering, as we start to assess the impact of lockdown 2 on York, that it took 2 months before case numbers peaked during the first lockdown period in the spring.

The second wave of infections in the City was already trending down before, first Tier 2 then full lockdown, restrictions were introduced.

However, the peak infection rate has, and remains, much higher than was seen in the spring. There is still a long way to go and it could be well into next year before infection rates start to reflect first wave exit numbers.

7 day rolling case number averages. First wave (March – June) compared to Second wave (Sept – Nov)
  • First lockdown started 16th March
  • First lockdown eased from 13th May.
  • York enters Tier 2 restrictions 17th October
  • Second lockdown starts 5th November

Source of infections

PHE has published some data indicating where victims may have come into contact with the virus. This is national data extracted from the the NHS App. and covered the period between 9th and 15th November. We believe that this information should also be published at a local level.

The major contact areas are revealed as supermarkets and schools. It is not suggested that these were the locations where victims caught the virus.

Surplus food distribution very popular

We understand that as many as 70 people have been attending the surplus food distribution sessions at the Foxwood Community Centre. Sessions take place twice a week.

More help for businesses

The York Council has announced how it proposes to allocate the Additional Restrictions Grant of £4,212,360 which it it has received as a one-off payment from the government. It must cover the current lockdown, any
future national lockdown, and any period when York might be
subject to local Tier 3 restrictions before the end of financial year
2021/22.

For businesses that predominantly supply their goods and services
the Government’s Inter Departmental Business Register shows there to be approximately 250 businesses in scope in York. Some are wholesalers to nonessential retail, while others are the greengrocers, fishmongers,
butchers, commercial laundries, cleaning contractors and others
who provide services to hospitality and accommodation providers.
A further related sector is companies who work with venues and
hospitality providers to arrange events – can also be thought
of as suppliers

  • For those with fixed commercial premises costs – rent payable to a landlord – a payment of £1,334 per 28-day qualifying restriction period (base level of LRSG(Closed) payments)
  •  For those without fixed premises costs, a payment of £500 per 28-day qualifying restriction period.

Details can be found by clicking here

Covid-secure winter beds for rough sleepers

The official number of rough sleepers in York has fallen to three and Covid-secure emergency winter beds are available to help people off the streets.

Arrangements are in place to ensure the welfare of rough sleepers this winter, including beds available in addition to the regular emergency accommodation. In line with guidelines to minimise the transmission of the virus, this accommodation is to support even more people off the streets, rather than sleeping rough and vulnerable to even more danger in the coldest months.

York goes above and beyond the national ‘severe weather scheme’ by making these beds available whether or not it’s freezing. We also accept rough sleepers’ dogs in a number of our hostels in York, and have done so since 2000.

Officers from the Salvation Army and the council are constantly working with people on the streets to bring them into the accommodation they need. Some of the winter beds offered are at council hostels where partner agencies and volunteer groups give extra support including providing food or clothing over the winter months.

In all emergency accommodation, people are offered help to address any issues which may have led them to becoming homeless. This includes referral to services for mental health or substance misuse, as well as training for work and how to manage a lasting tenancy. Once that stage is successfully underway, people are offered accommodation with less support before, hopefully, they move into private or affordable fully-independent homes.

Rough Sleeper services are operating as usual: for a bed, please go to 63 Lawrence Street before midday or call 01904 416562.

Anyone who sees a person sleeping rough can ring Streetlink on 0300 500 0194 which will alert us to visit the location and offer support. Many other ways to help people off the streets can be found at www.york.gov.uk/roughsleeping

Coronavirus York updates; 27th October 2020

Deaths and test results

ONE additional death announced at York Hospital Trust. Occurred on Sunday

No further care home deaths

60 (SIXTY) additional positive test results brings total to 3457

7 day cases per 100k population figure falls below 300 as infection rate continues to stabilise. Rates in Heslington and Tang Hall falling

Some additional neighbourhoods now have infection rates above the national average. Recent surge in case numbers in + Heworth South and The Groves.

Live Well in York during COVID

Some updated information on this web site. Click graphic to access

Click to access

Surplus food distribution in Foxwood

Volunteers are continuing to hand out surplus food to Foxwood residents during the half term. The sessions are likely to be very popular so the advice is to get there early

Council agrees £42750 budget to continue free school meals during half term

The Council has agreed to allocate £42,750 of existing emergency funding to be used to support 2850 of York schoolchildren with free school meals during October 2020 half term.

This is for children who normally receive free school meals during term-time.