This week we find ourselves remaining on step 3 of the Government’s road map out of pandemic restrictions, with step 4 delayed for a month.
We can see the sense in this when we consider cases across North Yorkshire almost doubled in the last week to 45 per 100,000. While none of us wanted this delay, we must respond, as before, with confidence and care for each other.
Be confident in the vaccine. Please, when offered your first or second jab, take it. This is our best defence against Covid-19. Also keep practising the basics – hands, face, space and fresh air – which are vital in keeping us safe.
That said, we can still enjoy ourselves. Sunshine is here and so is the European Football Championship. England made a good start, as did Wales. Scotland less so, but let’s hope they progress.
If you watch the Euros in a bar, be Covid-safe and consider the staff, who are trying to keep us all safe, too. Let’s celebrate and support our businesses and visit the shops and businesses that go the extra mile to be Covid-safe.
The news that those over 21 can now get the jab reminds us of the impact of the pandemic on our young people. At our press conference today, we heard about work to support and to listen to them.
Caroline O’Neill of Community First Yorkshire shared research that revealed 76 per cent of young people feeling lonely during the pandemic. The organisation’s Stand Up To Youth Loneliness campaign, created in consultation with young people across the county, addresses the social isolation affecting young people.
David Watson, of North Yorkshire Sport, highlighted the North Yorkshire Together partnership’s FEAST project to provide holiday activities for children eligible for free school meals. As summer holidays approach, organisations interested in providing activities are invited to apply for funding.
We value young people’s views. The press conference heard from James Koppert, a youth voice and participation officer, about our support for young people through the pandemic and the role of our youth voice executive, which ensures we listen to young people.
This work with and for young people is another example of the community connections that will help us through the rest of this pandemic.
North Yorkshire Coronavirus Data
At 14 June 2021, there have been 30,781 positive tests since 3 March 2020, with 480 new cases reported in the past two weeks. The weekly rolling average of new cases is 34 cases per day, allowing for incomplete data in the most recent days. The seven-day rate for North Yorkshire is 45.1 cases per 100,000 people, lower than the England seven-day rate of 74.7. Work continues to ensure effective monitoring of all areas, with support for incidents being provided across a range of settings, which are reviewed daily.
Find further information on North Yorkshire data provided at county, district and local area level.
Four-week delay to lifting of restrictions
The Government has announced the decision to delay the lifting of all legal restrictions on social contact by four weeks, from 21 June to 19 July. England will remain under Step 3 restrictions beyond 21 June, with the exception of weddings and wakes, which will be allowed to go ahead with more than 30 guests if social distancing is maintained.
Vaccination update
The Covid-19 vaccine rollout in England has been extended further to include the following groups:
· people aged 21 and over
· people who will turn 21 before 1 July 2021
Find further information on vaccination.
Testing Update
If anyone has symptoms, they must book a PCR test. Testing sites across North Yorkshire, as elsewhere in England, are operated and managed by the Department of Health and Social Care and private contractors employed by them. We try to help the Department by promoting the testing site locations and hosting information on how people with symptoms can book a test via the national government portal.
Find information about where you can get a PCR test on our website.
Everyone is encouraged to test themselves twice a week with home testing kits and report the results to NHS Test and Trace. You can order rapid lateral flow device (LFD) tests online or collect them from participating pharmacies or testing sites.
Find out how to order or collect free LFD tests.
With the lifting of restriction delayed until 19 July, it is vitally important that we continue with the key messages:
· Get your first and second dose of the jab when it’s your turn.
· Continue to think about the vulnerability of loved ones.
· Outdoors is always safer than indoors.
· Keep getting tested regularly, even without symptoms.
· Continue to follow social distancing when out with friends and family, including work places, pubs, restaurants etc.
Hands. Face. Space. Fresh Air.
Safeguarding Week 21 to 25 June 2021: LAST CHANCE to sign up for online sessions
A virtual, online conference will take place next week (Monday 21 and Friday 25 June), to mark Safeguarding Week 2021. Everybody has a part to play in keeping themselves, friends and family, employees and our wider community safe.
Partners from Safeguarding Adults Boards, Children’s Safeguarding Partnerships, Community Safety Partnerships across North Yorkshire, the City of York and East Riding have come together to develop an extensive programme of learning events, seminars and interactive sessions which all underpin this year’s theme, ‘Safeguarding is everybody’s business’.
As well as learning events for safeguarding professionals, there will be online sessions for which anyone is welcome to register. These cover a range of topics, including using online banking in safety (by North Yorkshire Police) and reducing loneliness and isolation (East Riding Safeguarding Adults Board, East Riding Council).
View the full conference programme and register. Read more here.
Loneliness Awareness Week
We are marking Loneliness Awareness Week, a national campaign hosted by the Marmalade Trust to get people talking about loneliness. For people of all ages, just having someone to talk to during long and lonely months of lockdown and shielding made all the difference.
Working alongside partners with the voluntary sector, the Team North Yorkshire effort coordinated through community support organisations has seen countless prescriptions collected, many cupboards stocked with food, telephone calls made to check in on people, library books supplied and meals delivered. Whatever duties they have performed, volunteers have been highly aware of the importance of their contact with residents even when it has been at a distance.
Find more information about Loneliness Awareness Week and the Marmalade Trust.
Find information about community groups and voluntary organisations in your area to increase your social connections.
We continue to have confidence that our schools remain safe places for children to learn and meet their additional needs. The use of lateral flow tests by pupils and families appears to be picking up asymptomatic cases early on and preventing the spread of the virus through schools, without the need for closing the school.
Organisations still have time to apply for a grant to deliver healthy holiday activities for young people in North Yorkshire this summer. A wide-ranging programme of sports coaching, creative and performing arts sessions and healthy eating are already set to be rolled out across the county for children and young people during the summer holidays.
We have commissioned North Yorkshire Together, a partnership between North Yorkshire Sport, Rural Arts and North Yorkshire Youth, to oversee a diverse programme of holiday activities.
North Yorkshire Together is inviting other organisations to join them in providing the FEAST holiday activities programme and is encouraging voluntary groups, sports coaching organisations, arts organisations, village hall groups and schools to apply for a grant to provide summer holiday activities.
The clubs will be available to all pupils in North Yorkshire, but will be free-of-charge to families eligible for free school meals and will include the provision of a meal during the session.
The funding for the programme has come from the Department for Education’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme. The activities must be a mix of engaging activities and also teach children about health and nutrition, as well as provide them with healthy food. North Yorkshire Together can support organisations to access healthy food options, if needed.
Any organisation interested in taking part needs to apply by June 7. Find information on applying and download an application form. If you have questions, email grants@northyorkshiretogether.co.uk
5 July: Start your business today with a free online course from the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub:
Do you want to start your own business, but are not sure where to begin? Have you started trading but need a guiding hand? The York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub has teamed up with Rebel Business School to offer free places on their acclaimed workshop to help you turn your dreams into a real business. Run over two weeks, the workshop explores a new topic every day, including how to start with no money, sales and marketing, legal, networking, and keeping motivated, as well as provides live business coaching.
Find out more and how to secure your place here.
York Business Week 2021:
Businesses across the city are invited to provide feedback on what should be included in this year’s programme of events. Feedback will be invaluable in shaping this year’s programme.
Complete the survey here.
Keep up to date with Covid-19 news for North Yorkshire.
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