Five years on: York marks the anniversary of the UK’s first Covid case

On Wednesday 29th January 2020, the UK’s first confirmed case of what would later be named Covid-19 was identified in York.

The first two patients tested positive for coronavirus after two Chinese nationals staying at a hotel in York fell ill.

Five years on, Joan Concannon, the University of York’s Director of External Relations spoke with BBC Radio York about the university’s response upon discovering that one of the two affected individuals was a student.

Joan described the growing concern among York’s Chinese student population, who had been closely following the emerging crisis in Wuhan. The university had already begun scenario planning when reports surfaced of emergency teams in hazmat suits entering Staycity apartments in York. Soon after, the university received confirmation that they were directly involved.

Joan recalls, “We sprang into action. By Friday morning, we had definite confirmation, so we spent all of that day deciding what our approach was going to be.”

The university made a key decision early on: to be open, transparent, and honest about what was known, and what wasn’t. However, this approach led to challenging conversations with Public Health England, who prioritised patient confidentiality. Joan emphasised the importance of controlling the narrative to prevent panic, particularly within the university’s 22,000-strong community.

She explained how, “If we don’t tell people in a calm and measured way, it’s going to be left to the media to tell that story, and that’s not a helpful way to do it”.

York hotel confirmed the UK’s first Covid cases, via Google Maps

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The statement from the University of York also challenged reports of racism regarding the coronavirus outbreak, “York welcomes millions of people from around the world to live, work, and visit every year. We are a city proud of being recognised as among the most friendly and most welcoming in the country: long may that continue.”

Despite the stress of the situation, Joan said that the university remained calm and methodical. An operations room was established, bringing together key staff from estates, facilities, and communications. Led by Deputy Registrar Heidi Fraser-Krauss, the team formulated a plan to make a public statement by Saturday morning, before the media could break the story.

Late into Friday night, Joan faced pushback from health officials concerned about releasing details. However, she stood firm, arguing that controlling the narrative was crucial to preventing misinformation.

The university’s careful planning also extended to setting up a call centre staffed by 40 trusted individuals. These volunteers were briefed on Friday afternoon, ensuring they were prepared to answer student and community concerns the moment the statement was released.

Joan recalls how the news spread through the country: “I kind of knew we were on top of it when the reporters standing outside the hospital in Newcastle used our statement word for word.”

A national lockdown began less than two months later

While the pandemic was unprecedented, Joan noted that crisis training played a vital role in shaping their response. Just months before the outbreak, she and Fraser-Krauss had attended a Universities UK crisis workshop on managing a healthcare emergency on campus. They used their training materials and even contacted the course leaders for guidance when facing resistance to their communication strategy.

Beyond the university, Joan also worked with York City Council and the local hospital to establish a city-wide communications group. This network proved invaluable when Covid-19 became a daily reality. This collaboration, she believes, was a key factor in York’s high compliance with coronavirus regulations throughout the pandemic.

The events of January 2020 marked the beginning of a global crisis, but Joan reflected on how York’s response helped set a precedent for clear communication and community cooperation. Five years later, the University of York remains proud of the way it handled the UK’s first Covid-19 case – with transparency, decisiveness, and a commitment to keeping the community informed.