The North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum met this afternoon to brief the media (5 January 2021).
- Richard Flinton/ chair confirmed his support for the lockdown as it gave a simpler message
- Asking for people to work within the rules.
- New covid variant believed to be in North Yorkshire but not formally confirmed
- There has been an overall increase in infection rates, North Yorkshire now 345.9 (England average 559.5) that’s up 172.5 from previous week.
- 19 covid patients in Harrogate Hospital (396 bed capacity),
- Total of 271 covid cases in hospital across North Yorkshire with 31 in intensive care.
Infection Rates
7 day infection rate/ 100,000 (week to 4 January 2021)
- England Average 559.5 (up 172.5)
- North Yorkshire 345.9 (up 156.9)
- Scarborough 348.5 (up 134.6)
- Craven 365.5 (up 228.5)
- Selby 366.6 (up 181.6)
- Harrogate 297.2 (up 171.2)
- Richmond 465.3 (up 243.3)
- Ryedale 308.8 (up 129.8)
- Hambleton 377.8 (up 85.8)
7 day infection rate/ 100,000 (week to 26 December)
- England Average 387 (up 104)
- North Yorkshire 189 (up 60)
- Scarborough 213 9 (down 34.2)
- Craven 137 (up 4)
- Selby 185 (up 43.8)
- Harrogate 126 (up 39.6)
- Richmond 222 (up 104.7)
- Ryedale 179 (up 99.5)
- Hambleton 292 (up 214.5)
7 day infection rate/ 100,000 (week to 21 December)
- England Average 282.2
- North Yorkshire 129.0
- Scarborough 253.2
- Craven 133.0
- Selby 141.2
- Harrogate 86.4
- Richmond 117.3
- Ryedale 79.5
- Hambleton 77.5
Hospitals
Hospital in-patients with Covid-19 (4 January 2021)
- All hospitals – 271 (up 95)
- Harrogate – 19 (up 5)
- York – 71 (up 25)
- Scarborough – 40 (up 4)
- South Tees – 141 (up 61)
- Darlington – 64 (up 28
- Airedale – 28 (down 9)
Seen as the busiest week of the year.
Of the 271 patients, 31 of those patients are in intensive care beds.
Staff absences due to sickness or isolating 352 (up 108)
Hospital surge plans remain under review rather implemented.
The question around bad capacity was not answered at meeting, particularly hospital capacity pre-covid against now.
Harrogate had 396 beds pre-covid.
Hospital in-patients with Covid-19 (21 December 2020)
- All hospitals – 176 ( up 2)
- Harrogate – 14 (down 21)
- York – 46 (up 11)
- Scarborough 36 (down 2)
- South Tees 80 (no change)
- Darlington 36 (down 8)
- Airedale 37 (up 8)
Education
Acknowledged that it was very late notice for closure of schools.
All schools and colleges would be closed other than for vulnerable children or those children of critical workers.
Awaiting advice for guidance on distribution of additional IT and laptops
Government were issuing messages to the public before to local educational leaders
Situation around GCSE and A ‘level exams not fully understood.
Acknowledged that there would be anxiety around exams, but they didn’t have anything more concrete.
Testing
No report was given on track and trace
Support bubbles are still in place.
Childcare support can only be between 2 families and not at the same time as a support bubble present.
They declined to answer the question of the percentage of tests that came back positive, citing national protocol.
Care homes
68 of 235 care homes with outbreaks
183 affected with covid
Advice to be issued on visiting arrangements
Some care homes still be used for discharge beds
Plans being put together for vaccine rollout in care homes
LEP comment on Business
There will be business casualties due to the lockdown
97% of business in North Yorkshire are SME
But good news that trades and construction can continue
Urged people to be local, buy local with many more local shops now allowing online ordering.
Policing
Were continuing to engage and enforce where necessary.
There will be increased visibility.
Needed to see (tomorrow) what came from the latest legislation
