Coronavirus York updates; 16th Sept 2020

Deaths and test results

There have been no further COVID 19 related deaths in the City

There have been NINE additional positive test results announced today bring the total to 1070

Neighbourhoods with the largest number of cases during the last 7 days are Tang Hall, Heworth North and Haxby.

Other neighbourhoods have between 0 and 2 cases

Transparency

Sky video makes a very good case for widening the amount of data published at community level. They make the, very valid, point that “positivity” is a key measure (the percentage of positive test results) rather than the absolute number.

The authorities are reluctant to provide this information on a daily basis at local authority level nor do they provide information on the number of COVID occupied hospital beds or the characteristics of the cases we are seeing.

Local MPs should be leading the campaign for more openness. Instead they seem to be posturing on the sidelines

Grants for businesses

The Government’s Small Business Grants (SBG) and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure grants (RHLG) closed for applications on 28 August 2020.

The York Council is now reviewing its performance in helping business. A report has been published today.

It says that over £70 million in business rates relief has been processed.

£46 million has also paid to 3531 businesses in the small business and retail, hospitality & leisure sectors.

£1.1 million was granted to “micro businesses” from Council funds. A further £2.2 million came for government. However requests for aid exceeded the funds that were available.

Coronavirus York updates; 6th June 2020

No new cases in York

The total (cumulative) number of people testing positive for coronavirus in York has remained at 462. This represents an infection rate of 220.1 cases per 100,000 people.

UPDATE; There have now been no COVID deaths at York hospitals since 29th May. The total for York and Scarborough remains at 210.

Some information is now available from the government about the trend in case numbers by local authority area. These are based on hospital tests and may not reflect the results from the Poppleton testing site (the results of which still haven’t been published).

Figures last updated on 5th June 2020

However, the picture is more encouraging now with infection numbers appearing to tail off.

Hopefully residents will help to consolidate the progress that has been made by the NHS and other professionals and will continue to observe strict social distancing and cleanliness standards.

A joint Public Health England and University of Cambridge study estimates the R rate for the North East and Yorkshire is 0.89. This is the lowest in the country.

Coronavirus cases in York since 1st January 2020

Face masks needed for hospital visits and public transport use

You’ll have to have a face mask if visiting York and Scarborough hospital from Monday, either as an out patient or a visit – and a surgical mask if you work there.