Five new cases of COVID-19 in North Yorkshire each day as council gives update on care homes
North Yorkshire’s Director of Public Health Dr Lincoln Sargeant said yesterday: “Cases are generally linked to routine testing of care homes and staff, small outbreaks in workplaces/hospitality settings, or transmission within households.
“There has been an increase in cases in young adults (10-29-year-olds) in particular. Younger people are less likely to show symptoms or have severe illness from COVID. However, even if individuals have mild disease there is still the risk of spread to people who are more susceptible to severe illness and death.”
Dr Sargeant added: “Although lockdown restrictions have been eased, individuals should still avoid large gatherings and maintain two-metre social distancing from people outside their household.”
North Yorkshire County Council Chief Executive Richard Flinton said in the update issued this week: “Cases of COVID-19 in the county remain low, but they are creeping up. It lies within our own power to prevent more outbreaks and to make sure our businesses can stay open.
Dr Sargeant said of the launch of the National Institute for Health Protection: “Earlier this week it was announced that Public Health England will be replaced in 2021 by the National Institute for Health Protection, which will bring together PHE’s health protection function with NHS Test and Trace and the Joint Biosecurity Centre. Since PHE’s inception we have worked very closely with our local team in Yorkshire & The Humber who have always provided invaluable support, particularly during COVID. We are extremely grateful for the expertise they have provided to us and will continue to work together to tackle COVID-19 and other health protection issues through this transition period."
Please look after yourselves and your family – help keep our shops, cafes, restaurants and hotels open – please play your part in our economic recovery and take all necessary precautions to stop the spread.
Care homes
The council added in the update: “Although we now have very few cases of COVID-19 in care settings (six out of 235 settings) our work to support them continues. We remain vigilant, particularly with winter coming and an increase in infections in some parts of the UK.
“We work closely with, and continue to monitor, all our care homes and record every COVID-19 infection so we can help a home to take swift action if an outbreak arises.
“From the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic we stepped up support for the 235 care homes and extra care housing schemes in North Yorkshire with a seven-day-a-week response with daily calls and support, including staffing, training, cleaning, help with PPE and testing for all care settings. This support continues.
“Multi-agency meetings, involving senior managers from the county council and the NHS, also take place daily to consider the risks identified at specific locations and we have put in place any additional support that has been required.
“This approach is a key part of managing the pandemic and protecting frail residents and keyworkers. It has resulted in North Yorkshire securing additional testing kits for care settings and taking rapid action to tackle poor quality (for example, working with CQC to ensure the rapid closure of two residential homes in Scarborough).”
