SEVEN additional hospital deaths have been announced. Four occurred on Thursday and three yesterday.
Tests
5325 PCR tests were carried out in the City during the week ending 1st February.
The positivity rate was 7.4%. This is the lowest figure recorded in the City since 22nd December
1060 lateral flow test were conducted on 5th February
You will be able to book a test from the evening of Sunday 7th February at www.nhs.uk/Coronavirus and selecting the option that you were asked to attend by your local council.
Test results
THIRTY NINE additional positive test results were announced today. Brings cumulative total to 11,345.
After yesterdays blip, the infection rate /100k population figure has started to fall again. At 173.31 it is the lowest rate seen in the City since 21st December 2020.
Following current trends, the rate should fall below 150 early next week.
The rate in York continues to fall more quickly than elsewhere in the region and country. A
fter a short period of stability, the rate in North Yorkshire has also now resumed its downward trajectory.
Neighbourhoods
Fourteen neighbourhoods now have average, or below average, infection rates.
The lowest rate can now be found in the Dunnington/Elvington/Wheldrake area
• NHS Pathways/111 triages – as at 1.2.21 there had been 149 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 3.2.21, the Covid Symptom App estimates 399.5 per 100,000 in York with symptomatic covid (responses from a sample of 4,708 people). The peak rate was 1,282.6 on 7.1.21.
Diagnosed cases
• As at 4.2.21 York has had 11,251 cases since the start of the pandemic, a rate of 5,341.9 per 100,000 of population. The cumulative rate in York is below the national (6,056.2) and regional (5,938.4) 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 (1.2.21) is Green.
• The provisional rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 27.1.21 to 2.2.21 in York is 156.7 (using data published on Gov.uk on 4.2.21).
• The latest official “validated” rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 24.1.21 to 30.1.21 was 178.5. The national and regional averages at this date were 260.6 and 202.8 respectively (using data published on Gov.uk on 4.2.21).
• York is currently ranked 17th out of 149 Upper Tier Local Authorities (UTLAs) with a rank of 1 indicating the lowest 7 day rate.
• For the 7 day period 23.1.21.to 29.1.21, 7 wards in York (Acomb, Westfield, Rawcliffe & Clifton Without, Strensall, Holgate, Dringhouses and Woodthorpe and Copmanthorpe) have seen a statistically significant fall in rates compared with the 7 day period 16.1.21 to 22.1.21. For the remaining wards there has been no statistically significant change in rates. No wards have seen a significant increase in rates in this period.
• The rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 24.1.21 to 30.1.21 for people aged 60+ in York was 175.5. The national and regional averages were 207.5 and 159.4 respectively.
• As at 1.2.21, the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 PCR tests only) was 7.3%. The national and regional averages are 9.6% and 8.2% respectively.
• As at 1.2.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 Lateral Flow Tests only) was 0.52%. The national and regional averages are 0.4% and 0.3% respectively.
• As at 2.2.21, the latest 14 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 1 and 2 PCR tests combined) was 8.3%. The national and regional averages were 10.7% and 8.7% respectively. The breakdown for York over the last 14 days is a 7.9% positivity rate for Pillar 1 tests and an 8.4% positivity rate for Pillar 2 PCR tests. Source PHE
• As at 3.2.21 York University reported 40 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 1.2.21 York St. John reported 9 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
• Since 28.5.20 a total of 10,309 laboratory confirmed CYC Covid cases have been uploaded into the NHS Test and Trace system and 9,277 of the cases have been completed (90%). 24,347 ‘contacts’ have been identified and 18,172 of these have been completed (74.6%). Source: PHE Report.
• Local Tracing of Cases: Between 22.10.20 and 29.1.21, 842 ‘actionable’ positive COVID-19 CYC cases have been referred to the local contact tracing service. 809 of the referrals (96.1%) have been actioned and 33 are still ‘in progress. Of the referrals actioned, 538 (66.5%) were successful and 271 (33.5%) were unable to be reached via phone or home visit, but guidance leaflets were posted where possible.
Cases in Residential Settings / Schools
• As at 4.2.21 there were 6 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 4.2.21 (1 home).
• In the 7 days up to 31.1.21 there were 28 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 3.2.21 there were 119 confirmed Covid-19 patients in General and Acute beds. The previous figure on 2.2.21 was 125
• As at 3.2.21 there were 10 confirmed Covid-19 patients and 0 suspected Covid-19 patient in the Intensive Treatment Unit. The previous figures on 2.2.21 were 8 and 0 respectively.
• As at 3.2.21 there had been 0 patients admitted with suspected Covid-19 and 5 with confirmed Covid-19 in the previous 24 hours.
• As at 3.2.21 there had been 16 confirmed patients discharged with COVID-19 in last 24 hours.
Covid Patients (CYC Residents) discharged from York Hospital
• Between 25.1.21 and 31.1.21, 57 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 29.1.21 was estimated to be in the range 0.8 to 1.1. The previous estimate was (0.8 to 1.1) on 22.1.21.
Vaccinations
• As at 3.2.21 37,673 CYC residents have received the first dose and 1,034 had received both doses.
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 week (16.1.20 to 22.1.20) 30 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (19 in hospital, 3 at home or in a hospice and 8 in a care home).
• ONS Cumulative data: Since the start of the pandemic, for deaths occurring up to 22nd January 2020 and registered up to 30th January 2021, 293 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (165 in hospital, 105 in care homes, 16 at home and 7 in a hospice). The number of deaths per 100,000 of population in York is 139.1 which is lower than the national average of 171.7
• Local Registrar data (Cumulative): Since the start of the pandemic (using data for deaths occurring up to 27.1.21), a cumulative total of 299 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 82.4, with an age range of 44-104. The age profile of those dying in York is older than the national average. 147 of the 299 were male (49.2%), less than the national average (54.7%). 99 people (33.1%) died in nursing /care homes; (the national average is 22.9%). In addition 24 people (8.03%) who normally resided in nursing/care homes in the CYC area, died in hospital.
There have been no further Coronavirus deaths at York Trust hospital (26/6/20). There have also been no more positive lab test results (26/6/20)
The independent COVID 19 monitoring site estimates that 4156 people in York will have had the virus. That represents 0.4% of the population.
COVID cases daily and cumulative
The site derives its information from returns regularly submitted by residents from across the country https://covid19.joinzoe.com/
Care home deaths
The government released details earlier in the week of the number of deaths which have occurred in care homes click
At that time, the last death at a York care home had occurred on 12th June.
In total there were 63 deaths in York homes.
South Park care home
Now the media are reporting that some of the COVID 19 cases occurred at the South Park care home on Gale Lane. Some staff were also affected.
The York authorities have not been prepared to break down the death rate figures to individual homes. We think that they are wrong to withhold that information.
It – like the results of the local COVID tests being undertaken at Poppleton – are matters of public interest.
Following yesterdays death at a York Hospital Trust hospital there have been no further fatalities
There have also now (19/6/20) been no further positive lab test results. That means there have been no new cases reported in the City since the total reach 462 on 2nd June.
Coronavirus meeting tomorrow
The York Outbreak Management Advisory Board will meet using webcast and is being put in place in order to improve the speed of the response, build on and involve local knowledge and improve co-ordination.
Established as part of the national Test and Trace programme, the meetings will advise and inform the development of City of York Council’s outbreak management plan and a local Test and Trace programme, reflecting the views of different communities and sectors across the city.
The first meeting of the board comes after City of York Council was awarded £733,896 last week by the Government to support the creation of new boards, local outbreak control plans and preventative work designed to protect residents.
The meeting will hear that they have not been given access to the test results (pillar 2) being produced at local privately run testing sites like the one at Poppleton.
Testing centre
The absence of this information has been a source of irritation both for local healthcare professionals and those living in the City.
Details of the meeting and associated briefing papers can be found by clicking here
There have been no more Coronavirus deaths at York Trust Hospitals. The cumulative total remains at 213.
There have also been no more positive lab test results (17/6/20). The last positive result was on 2nd June which saw the cumulative total number of cases rise to 462. This has been the longest sequence of negative results in the City since the pandemic began.
Public Toilets
In addition to reopening existing public toilets, the Council is providing additional trailer facilities at St Sampson Square and Parliament Street.
Tourism recovery plan published
Welcome to Yorkshire has published a plan detailing how it expects the critical visitor economy to revive over the next few months. The plan can be read by clicking here. The proposals include a “Song for Yorkshire project to help celebrate the civic pride in our county”. There will also be a Welcome to Yorkshire Gift Card
Bus Grants
The Council has annouced how it will allocated government bus grants.
City of York Council has been awarded a total grant of £59,970 for the 12-week period commencing 17th March. The grant can only be used to support operators of council-tendered bus services and any unused grant must be returned to the DfT. The grant will be apportioned as follows:
ConnexionsBuses: £5,210.67
East Yorkshire Buses: £20,204.35
First York: £3,096.69
Transdev: £24,750.91
York Pullman: £6,707.38
Older residents trial new interactive games technology
Care home residents wanting to keep more active and alert through lockdown are trialling a new interactive light projector.
Those who can’t welcome visitors during the pandemic are enjoying this technology, and trying out new activities to support their physical and emotional health.
Older people, especially those living with dementia, are experiencing the brightly-coloured shapes and games which are projected onto tables, bed coverings, walls or floors. Playing and interacting with them can help improve co-ordination, stimulate responses and raise levels of social and physical activity.
Liberal Democrat Councillors have welcomed government figures released today (11 December) which show that York pupils are continuing to perform above the national average in their Key Stage 2 tests, ranking the city’s results second only to those of the East Riding in Yorkshire and Humber.
The Department for Education (DfE) published the final results for the June 2014 Key Stage 2 tests for 11 year olds. For York, these results show that:
Results at Level 4+ (the expected level of achievement for 11 year olds) : 79% of pupils achieved level 4 or above in reading, writing and maths (in line with the national average).
Results at Level 5+ (the higher level): 25% of pupils achieved level 5 or above in reading, writing and maths (1 percentage point above the national average). (more…)
