ONE further death at York Hospital Trust announced today. It occurred on Thursday. The total death toll, at York and Scarborough hospitals, is now 40 since second COVID wave hit the area in late in September.
45 (FOURTY FIVE) additional positive test results were announced today.
Unfortunately the infection trend now is upwards in parts of the City with several neighbourhoods now above the national average. These are Heslington, Holgate East, South Bank and Wigginton.
Following a spike, the largest number of cases can now be found in the Fulford Road/Clementhorpe area.
On a more positive note, Osbaldwick now has the lowest number of cases recorded in any York neighbourhood since the beginning of October.
SIX additional deaths announced by York Hospital Trust today. This is the highest single day figure since the start of the second wave.
70 (SEVENTY) new positive test results announced today. This is the largest for over a week. Brings total number of cases to 4408
The blip may have originated in Heslington where – for the first time this week – an increase in the number of positive test results has pushed the neighbourhood above the national average infection rate. It is the only York area now in this category.
The results of the national lockdown could start to influence trends next week, so many will be watching the outcome with some anxiety.
York overall however remains below the national, regional and county case rate average.
Coronavirus related deaths at York and Scarborough hospitals
There has been ONE additional death announced today by the York Hospital Trust. It occurred yesterday (11th).
There have been 56 (FIFTY SIX) new positive test results announced today
The number of cases in the City continues to reduce slowly.
There has been a spike in infections in the South Bank and Dringhouses neighbourhood.
Other areas continue to be at or below the national average
3541 P2 tests were carried out in the City last week. Around 11% were positive.
Mass testing
The York Council has issued the following statement from Sharon Stoltz, Director of Public Health, about the opportunity for mass testing in York.
Sharon Stoltz, Director of Public Health, said:
We can confirm that City of York Council has not rejected the offer of mass testing and in fact, we are working to develop our proposals for introducing mass testing in the city.
Directors of Public Health have been asked to submit expressions of interest to test 10% of our local population on a weekly rolling basis, which will mean testing approximately 20,000 residents every week in York.
This is something new that we have never done before and so we wanted to take time to plan how this new testing programme can be delivered effectively and in a safe way. Anyone testing positive will need to be referred into our local contact tracing service and so, we also need some time to expand the service in order to accept more referrals.
We are currently taking on board learning from the approach taken in Liverpool and we are working on our ‘expression of interest’ proposals, which will be presented to the Outbreak Management Advisory Board next week for consideration, after which the proposal will be submitted to the Department for Health and Social Care.
In the meantime, anyone with symptoms of coronavirus can arrange a free test by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/coronavirusor calling 119″
City of York Council is once again thanking businesses and residents in the city and asking people to continue their efforts to stop the spread of the virus.
Since the 7 day rate of cases per 100,000 of population in York peaked at 309.6 on 20 October, the rate has recently fallen to 176.6 (as at 6 November). The rate in York is below the national and regional averages and is currently among the lowest in the Yorkshire and Humber Region.
The percentage of people who test positive after taking a community based (Pillar 2) test in York has fallen to 10.2% (as of 9 November) after a peak of 18% (on 15 October). The rate in York is currently lower than national and regional averages.
Council leaders are asking everyone to continue to practice Hands. Face. Space and self-isolate if they have symptoms or are told to by Test and Trace to continue to reduce the number of cases.
In recent weeks the council has launched its local contact tracing programme to reach those the national system has been unable to.
Since then, the number of people being contacted to check they are ok and identify any contacts has increased substantially.
In the past two weeks, the council has reached well over 80% of contacts passed to them by the national test and trace service and the team are thankful for the support of residents who are contacted for this vital service.
A new animation to explain how the local test and trace system works is now available on youtube and will be added to the council website.
Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council said:
This has been a challenging and uncertain period for everyone. One thing we can guarantee is that the people of this city will look after each other and we should be incredibly proud of that community spirit.
“Whilst it has been encouraging to see numbers falling in recent weeks, we cannot afford to be complacent as we have seen cases rise in other parts of the region and country.
“Our hope is that by the end of these national restrictions, if we continue our efforts, we can emerge at the lowest level of local restrictions.”
Sharon Stoltz, Director for Public Health said:
The news of potential vaccines being effective is encouraging however, until they are approved and mass vaccination is taking place, we can’t afford to be complacent.
“Recent weeks have seen a fall in the number of cases thanks to the efforts of people in the city. We want to continue to drive the numbers down further in the coming weeks.
“Washing our hands, wearing a face covering in busy public spaces and keeping a 2m distance from those you don’t live with remain as important as ever. As is self-isolating when you have symptoms or are told to by Test and Trace. These methods remain our best way of stopping the spread and keeping the people we love safe.”
Businesses urged to register for grants
City of York Council is urging eligible businesses to register for government grants now the application process has opened today, 12 November.
The latest Government grants cover both the brief period York was in Tier 2 restrictions and the current national lockdown. Council officers have been quickly working to set up the process after the government issued detailed guidance on delivering the three new grant schemes, which had been announced over the previous weeks.
The government-prescribed grant allocations, cover:
The period of national lockdown;
The brief period whilst York was in Tier 2 of local restrictions;
The new grant for sectors which have received no previous government support
Businesses will soon be able to apply for the following grants:
Lockdown Local Restriction Scheme
Business forced to close by law under national lockdown from 5 November will receive:
For properties with a rateable value of £15k or under, grants to be £1,334 per month, or £667 per two weeks;
For properties with a rateable value of between £15k-£51k grants to be £2,000 per month, or £1,000 per two weeks;
For properties with a rateable value of £51k or over grants to be £3,000 per month, or £1,500 per two weeks.
Tier 2 Local Restriction Scheme
Businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors, B&Bs and hotels will receive a proportion of the following monthly grants to reflect the 19 days spent in Tier 2:
For properties with a rateable value of £15k or under, grants of £934 per month
For properties with a rateable value above £15k and below £51k, grants of £1,400 per month
For properties with a rateable value of £51k or above, grants of £2,100 per month
Sector support
A new government grant aimed at businesses which have not previously received support, including nightclubs, dance halls, and discotheques was introduced from 1 November 2020. However, this will be superseded from 5 November by the lockdown restriction scheme.
For properties with a rateable value of £15k or under, grants of £667 per 14-day period
For properties with a rateable value above £15k and below £51k, grants of £1,000 per 14-day period
For properties with a rateable value of £51k or above, grants of £1,500 per 14-day period
The council has also been in extensive discussions with representative groups across the city to develop proposals for an additional discretionary fund given to local authorities by the government.
The council held an emergency decision of the executive member for finance and performance today (12 November), outlining how the fund could be used to support businesses which are forced to shut in the current lockdown, but miss out on the government funding, including:
Providing equivalent grants to the supply chains of business forced to close
Offering direct grants of up to £1334 per month for businesses which have to close but don’t pay rates
A voucher scheme to be spent on effective local business support
A small fund to support future events or works to bring customers to businesses
More details on the application process for these grants will be available soon. Register for business updates on the Council website at https://www.york.gov.uk/form/EmailUpdates, and you will be updated when applications go live.
Councillor Nigel Ayre, executive member for finance and performance, said:
Council staff have once again put in a huge effort to get these schemes live exceptionally quickly, and are ready to distribute these latest government grants to businesses.
“In the summer they distributed over £110m of support, resulting in York being one of the fastest paying councils during the first national lockdown. Businesses can rest assured that this is once again our aim. They can help us do this by providing all the relevant information that is required for fraud checks and waiting patiently for grants, contacting us to check on progress will only slow down payments.
“I’d also like to thank all the partners, business leaders and lots of individual businesses which have helped us to develop the discretionary scheme. All the government guidance suggests that the £4.2m discretionary fund will have to cover all business support activity until March 2022. Working together I think we’ve quickly found the fairest and most effective way to support those businesses which are deeply affected by COVID but have missed out on government support.”
Councillor Andrew Waller, executive member for the economy and strategic planning, said:
I’m pleased to see that after months of active lobbying for more urgent and comprehensive support for businesses, that we are now in a position to distribute these grants to businesses who urgently need them.
“This funding will go some way to protecting hundreds of York businesses and jobs, sectors like retail, and some self-employed/micro businesses are set to miss out. That being said I would urge businesses who have fallen through the cracks and will not benefit from these new announcements, to please contact us as soon as possible at economicgrowth@york.gov.uk and we will continue to raise these ongoing issues with the Government and regional partners.
“There is also a lot more local support for businesses beyond these grants. Please get in touch with Make it York, York BID or the Federation of Small Businesses as soon as possible to find out more.”
To get notification when grant applications open, and up to date info on other business support, sign up for our regular bulletins here www.york.gov.uk/form/EmailUpdates
4 (FOUR) more deaths at York Hospital Trust announced today. That is the largest single day announcement of fatalities since the second wave of COVID hit the City. Two fatalities occurred on 8th and two on the 9th November. For source details click here
There were 35 (THIRTY FIVE) additional positive test results announced today. That brings the total to 4228
Overall infection rates are now the lowest they have been for 6 weeks.
Only one neighbourhood (Wigginton) is marginally above the national average.
During the last week, during which time infection rates in the City have reduced, they have increased at the North Yorkshire, Yorkshire and national levels.
York now has one of the lowest infection rates in North Yorkshire. It is also much lower than other urban areas in Yorkshire. Hull now has the highest number of cases.
Centre for City’s view of York economy
The Centre for City’s group have updated their economic modelling work to reflect the latest impact of the lockdown. The figures suggest that York is faring about average when compared to other parts of the country.
Click image to access data
Hospital pressures
More than 450 NHS workers in North Yorkshire are off sick or self-isolating because of coronavirus.
Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for North Yorkshire NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, told a briefing that the staff shortages are having a “significant impact” on hospitals already under pressure from a surge in virus patients.
The absences come as the region’s main hospitals in Harrogate, Scarborough, York and South Tees are treating almost as many coronavirus patients as the first wave after a 33% jump in admissions in the last week.
On Tuesday, 252 patients were receiving emergency treatment, compared with 302 in spring.
Mrs Bloor told a briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum: “We are seeing an increase in staff absences – there are 450 staff across the main North Yorkshire hospitals absent either with Covid or in self-isolation.
“Marrying that with the seasonal illnesses and absences that we would normally expect, it is having a significant impact on staffing levels.
“All of our trusts have got surge plans that allow them to respond to normal winter pressures but particularly where we are now with the increase in numbers of patients presenting with Covid symptoms.
“We have mutual aid agreements in place between hospitals so that they can support each and we can take a regional view.
“If the numbers do rise significantly that will mean that hospitals can not protect planned care capacity which they are working really hard to do.”
Harrogate Hospital currently has 28 coronavirus patients – an increase of 13 from last week.
York has 56 patients – after 15 were admitted in the last seven days.
South Tees – which is located in Middlesbrough but serves North Yorkshire residents – has the highest figure of 119 – an increase of 15.
It comes as NHS staff are reportedly to get twice-weekly home coronavirus tests as early as next week.
Professor Stephen Powis told the Health Service Journal that all patient-facing staff will receive asymptomatic testing, with tests to be rolled out across 34 hospital trusts and cover “over 250,000 staff”.
Universities
The media are reporting that students at York and St John Universities will be encouraged to return home in December. Travel dates will be staggered.
It is unclear whether those wishing to travel on public transport will be required to take one of the new “lateral flow” tests which have been used in a Liverpool pilot, with a turnaround time of under an hour and available for people without symptoms.
It is unlikely that the many foreign students currently studying at the University would be able to return home.
It remains unclear whether the Universities will reopen in January or whether “on line” study will become the new norm.
Back to Tier 1 says MP
Local MP Julian Sturdy has said that York should return to Tier 1 status on 3rd December when the current lockdown period is due to end.
There would be some serious issues to be addressed if the City were to encourage people from high infection areas to visit the City. The spike in September and October can be traced to contacts with people newly arrived in the City.
Now, with infection rates already back to those last seen in September, a strategy aimed at encouraging “locals” to use York shops maybe the safest way forward.
York currently has not yet taken up the offer from the government of “mass testing”.
TWO further deaths reported at York Hospital Trust. One occurred on Saturday and one on Sunday.
41 (FOURTY ONE) positive test results announced today bring the total number of cases to 4193. This is the lowest number of new cases for over a month.
Two neighbourhoods are (marginally) above the national infection rate. They are Westfield/Chapelfields/Foxwood North & Wigginton.
Heslington – for the first time since September – is no longer above the national case incidence rate.
Overall the City remains below the county, regional and national infection level.
NHS parking decision
The Council has agreed to allocated the Union Terrace coach park for the use of NHS staff working at York Teaching Hospital for the duration of the lockdown (5th November to 3rd December 2020). As per the lockdown in the spring, the NHS will manage the capacity within the coach park. This will be reviewed in line with changes to COVID Alert levels
One further death at the York Hospital Trust announced today. The fatality occurred yesterday and takes the total number of COVID 19 related cases to six during the last week
54 (FIFTY FOUR) new positive test results announced today bringing the total to 4152
The case rate in York is stable and below the regional and national average.
Heslington is no longer the neighbourhood with the highest number of cases. The numbers in the City centre neighbourhood and now higher.
The Westfield/Chapelfields/ Foxwood North neighbourhood has seen a gradual increase in case numbers over the last week or so. It now has above the national average number of infections.
The latest demographic data shows the number of positive test results in the City by age group. It shows that the teen and twenty age groups still have the majority of cases but that their infection rate is declining.
Number of positive test results in York by age group
Government initiatives
Vitamin D
Millions of vulnerable people will be sent supplies of Vitamin D by the Government as evidence grows that it helps in the battle against Covid-19 infection. Care-home residents and people shielding because they suffer from conditions such as cancer will be sent enough supplies of the vitamin to last four months, with the first packages due to arrive early next month.
One recent study found that more than 80 per cent of Covid-19 victims admitted to hospital were Vitamin D deficient, compared with a UK average of 25 per cent.Ministers are hoping that greater uptake of the vitamin, along with more effective drug treatments and a viable vaccine, will combine to remove the need for an endless series of rolling lockdowns.
Food help for children in low income families
The government is to spend about £400m to support poor children and their families in England, following a campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford. A winter grant scheme, to be run by councils, will provide support with food and bills, and a holiday food and activities programme is to be expanded.
The move represents a significant climbdown for the government, which had argued Universal Credit was enough.
From the package of support, a £170m ring-fenced fund will be distributed through councils until the end of March, with at least 80% earmarked for help with food and bills. The holiday food and activities programme will be expanded with a £210m investment to cover Easter, summer and Christmas in 2021.
On top of that, there will be a £16m cash boost for the nation’s food banks.
Two further deaths at York Hospital Trust announced. Both occurred yesterday (6th)
58 (FIFTY EIGHT) additional positive test results today bring the total numbers of cases to 4098
The incidence rate in York is currently stable with about 55 new cases on average being reported each day,.
For the first time there are no York neighbourhoods in the governments highest rate banding with Heslington having fallen below the 400 (per 100k pop) case threshold for the first time.
The case rate in York overall continues to be below the county, regional and national average.
There have been no additional deaths at York Hospital Trust announced today.
56 (FIFTY SIX) additional positive test results announced today bringing the cumulative total to 4040. The 3000 case milestone was passed on 19th October.
The rate of infection has now stabilised at 56 new cases each day. To put this into figure context the highest new case rate number record during the first wave was 29.1 on 5th May. (There has been a higher testing rate recently).
The infection rate in the City is still below the county, regional and national rate.
Only two wards (Heslington and Strensall) are above the national average infection rate.
All the figures predate the lockdown period which started yesterday. It will be at least a week before the impact of the new restrictions on infection rates can be monitored.
Updated Council briefing
The data is accurate as at 8.00 a.m. on Friday 06.11.20. Some narrative for the data covering the latest period is provided here below:
People with Covid Symptoms
• NHS Pathways/111 triages – as at 2.11.20 there had been 199 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 5.11.20, the Covid Symptom App estimates 677.8 per 100,000 in York with symptomatic covid (responses from a sample of 5,058 people). The peak rate was 1,116.3 on 31.10.20.
Diagnosed cases (Pillar 1&2 combined)
• As at 5.11.20 York has had 3,984 cases since the start of the pandemic, a rate of 1,892 per 100,000 of population. The rate in York is above the national average (1,697.1) but below the regional average (2,666.9).
• 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 (2.11.20) is Green.
• The provisional rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 28.10.20 to 3.11.20 in York is 178.05 (using data published on Gov.uk on 5.11.20).
• The latest official “validated” rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 25.10.20 to 31.10.20 was 184.2. The national and regional averages at this date were 231.0 and 410.5 respectively (using data published on Gov.uk on 5.11.20).
• As at 2.11.20, the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 only) was 11.8%. The national and regional averages are 11.3% and 17.3% respectively. The number of Pillar 2 tests being carried out in York has fallen by about a quarter in the last week.
• As at 5.11.20 York University reported 66 individuals within the University community who were currently self-isolating because they have had a positive COVID-19 test.
• As at 4.11.20 York St. John reported 22 individuals within the University community who were currently self-isolating because they have had a positive COVID-19 test.
Contact Tracing
• Since 28.5.20 a total of 3,418 laboratory confirmed CYC Covid cases have been uploaded into the NHS Test and Trace system and 2,943 of the cases have been engaged. 10,486 ‘contacts’ have been identified and 6,174 of these have been traced.
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 provides a breakdown by age and gender. The most recently available data is summarised below:
• ONS weekly data: For deaths occurring up to 23rd October 2020 and registered up to 31st October 2020, 176 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (84 in hospital, 78 in care homes, 10 at home and 4 in a hospice). The number of deaths per 100,000 of population in York is 83.56 which is lower than the national average of 93.06. The most recent death reported for a York resident occurred in week 43 (17 to 23 October).
• ‘Excess’ deaths (ONS). In week 43 (17 Oct to 23 Oct), 37 deaths occurred for York residents, which is 4 more than the average weekly number for 2014-18. Over the last 22 weeks the total number of deaths in York has been 36 fewer than the average for the equivalent weeks in 2014-18.
• Local Registrar data: In the weekly data received on 2.11.20 (for deaths occurring up to 28.10.20), a cumulative total of 168 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 82.6, with an age range of 53-104. The age profile of those dying in York is slightly older than the national average. 88 of the 168 were male (52.4%), slightly less than the national average (55.2%). 72 people (42.9%) died in nursing /care homes (the national average is 28.6%). In addition 13 people (7.74%) who normally resided in nursing/care homes in the CYC area, died in hospital.
Data on deaths occurring in hospital are shown below. Deaths are initially reported for York NHS Foundation Trust which includes Scarborough Hospital and the further breakdown by site can be delayed. From local registrar data, 55.1% of COVID-19 deaths occurring at York Hospital have been CYC residents. (NB NHS Trusts record deaths following a positive covid-19 test (within 28 days) whereas ONS record deaths where covid-19 in mentioned on the death certificate so the totals are not the same).
• Deaths at York Hospital: As at 5.11.20, 149 deaths (awaiting confirmation of breakdown by hospital site for recent deaths) where the person had tested positive for COVID-19 and were being cared for at York Hospital have been reported. 237 deaths have been reported by the wider York NHS Trust.
Economic support
The Government has announced a series of economic support measures to coincide with the national measures: • Business premises forced to close in England due to local or national restrictions are to receive grants worth up to £3,000 a month under the Local Restrictions Support Grant. • For properties with a rateable value of £15k or under, grants to be £1,334 per month, or £667 per two weeks; • For properties with a rateable value of between £15k-£51k grants to be £2,000 per month, or £1,000 per two weeks; • For properties with a rateable value of £51k or over grants to be £3,000 per month, or £1,500 per two weeks. • £1.1 billion is being given to local authorities, distributed on the basis of £20 per head, for one-off payments to enable us to support businesses more broadly.
The LGA and councils are engaging closely with central government officials on what these business support measures mean for councils, including new burdens payments and what happens with grants previously announced such as the discretionary support for ‘Tier 2’ areas. We will update you on this in future bulletins as we receive further information. The Government has also announced – •The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended until December with employees receiving 80 per cent of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500. The LGA guidance on the scheme has been updated. The Government has confirmed that partially publicly funded bodies may be eligible to access the scheme where their private revenues have been disrupted. •The Government announced today that support for self-employed people will rise to 80 per cent of trading profits during November. •Mortgage holidays will also no longer end. The Financial Conduct Authority will announce further information today.
If the new government schemes have missed your business that needs help please email economicgrowth@york.gov.uk
The national furlough scheme has today been extended by The Chancellor until March 2021. The scheme will continue to pay up to 80% of a person’s wage up to £2,500 a month. The scheme will be reviewed in January 2021.
As part of the revised scheme, anyone made redundant after 23 September can be rehired and put back on furlough.
The next self-employed income support grant will also increase from 55% to 80% of average profits – up to £7,500
3 (THREE) additional deaths announced today at the York Hospital Trust. Two occurred on Tuesday and one on Wednesday.
59 (FIFTY NINE) new positive test results announced today. Cumulative total now 3984.
Downward trend in new cases has continued but rate of reduction is slowing.
York is now below North Yorkshire, Yorkshire and England infection rates.
The latest testing figures suggest that around 800 tests are being carried out each day in the City. Less than 20% are proving to be positive and the proportion of positives is gradually falling
City centre quiet as lockdown starts
As expected most of the City was noticeably quieter today. However there were more people around than had been the case in April. Schools remained open, public transport was running and more shops were also trading. In the City centre Marks and Spencer had a steady stream of customers.
Things were closer to normal on some suburban shopping streets where the most significant sign of the new restrictions was that hairdressers and charity shops had remained closed.
Several food shops open in Acomb Front Street.High Ousegate quieter than normal (!)Short Que at Marks and Spencer where the Big Issue seller had made an effort to stir Christmas spirit. The level of the River Ouse is slowly receding
Latest from York Council
Following guidance from the Government we can confirm that the following council services and facilities will still be available to residents: public toilets, parks and children’s play areas and household waste and recycling sites will remain open
Public meetings will continue remotely with residents encouraged to take part children’s and adults services will continue with further guidance expected
York, Tang Hall and Acomb libraries will remain open for people to go into to use the public computers and to collect items ordered online. All others will close.
There will be some services which are impacted by the new regulations, including: foot streets restrictions will revert to finishing at 5pm rather than 8pm and the temporary loading bans will be removed. This is to ensure additional help for local businesses moving to delivery services
Wedding services will not be going ahead during lockdown outdoor and indoor gyms, sports facilities and swimming pools will be closed the Mansion House will be closed
We will be holding our next Facebook live on Wednesday 11 November, from 5:30 – 6:30pm, with a focus on emotional health and education. You can submit your questions in advance by emailing them to YourQuestions@york.gov.uk. Getting the help you need These will be difficult times for many of us. If you are struggling, please talk to someone. Our helpline is still running to provide support, whether that be collecting food and medicines, or giving advice. The helpline is available on 01904 551550 or by emailing COVID19help@york.gov.uk, where our volunteers and staff will be able to help you. Getting exercise, ideally in the fresh air, can make a real difference to your physical and emotional health and will help make the next month more bearable. Remember, you can also meet one person from another household for outdoor exercise which is vital if you live on your own. The Every Mind Matters campaign has lots of helpful tips for everyone to look after their emotional health. You can find their website at: www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters. Live Well York have directions on how to access a range of free support and services. You can find directories of help and advice on their website at: https://www.livewellyork.co.uk/s4s/WhereILive/Council?pageId=2251&lockLA=True As a city we always look after each other and this has been demonstrated time and time again this year. Anyone needing help, be it food or medicine collections or someone to talk to our helpline is there to help you. Call 01904 551550 or email COVID19help@york.gov.ukto ask for help. For information on what financial support may be available visit www.york.gov.uk/COVIDfinancialsupport. This includes details of the £500 self-isolation payment which you may be eligible. You can find out more at: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/09/28/coronavirus-covid-19-self-isolating-protects-your-friends-family-and-community All the latest government advice can be found at https://nhs.uk/coronavirus Please visit our coronavirus webpages: https://www.york.gov.uk/coronavirus. For more news from us, visit: https://www.york.gov.uk/news Information on council services during the national restrictions can be found at: https://www.york.gov.uk/news/article/383/council-supports-york-through-the-national-restrictions
There have been no additional deaths at the York Hospital Trust announced today.
There have been 43 (FOURTY THREE) additional cases identified today. That is the lowest number for several weeks. It brings the cumulative total to 3925.
The daily case rate seems to be levelling off at an average of about 56 new positive test results each day.
This figure was last seen at the beginning of October.
It is still too high but seems to have been influenced mainly by two neighbourhoods.
They are Strensall, where there has been a spike over recent days, and Heslington where the number of cases remains stubbornly high (currently 45) following a period which saw significant reductions.
17 neighbourhoods are now below the national average infection rate.
The City overall is now below the national, regional and North Yorkshire case rate average.
Regional and neighbourhood comparison trends
York no longer has the highest Coronavirus infection level in the North Yorkshire area.
The latest published figures show the case rate, per 100k population, to be higher in Harrogate, Selby, Hambleton and Craven.
York is the only part of North Yorkshire which is showing a decline in case numbers.
York is also well below the regional average. It’s 190.4 case level compares with the highest, in Doncaster, of 544.4
York is now – marginally- also below the national case rate average.
In the normal course of events, this might have led to calls for a return to Tier 1 restriction levels (which apply elsewhere in North Yorkshire). However, the national lockdown, which starts tomorrow (Thursday), will override any local restrictions.
We continue to be very disappointed by the refusal of the authorities to publish key details of the fight against the virus.
Residents (and taxpayers) should be updated on the features and linkage’s being revealed by the contact tracing teams.
The capacity levels at local hospitals are also a matter of general interest.
The latest neighbourhood figures reveal a continuing downward trend in most areas.
The only substantial increases over the last couple of weeks have been in the City centre and in the Strensall areas.
