Four positive cases of covid have been reported in the Harrogate district.
According to latest Public Health England figures, the total number of infections since last March stands at 7,737.
The daily number of cases reported is based on PCR and lateral flow tests returning positive results. However, if someone with a positive lateral flow test later has a negative result with a PCR test, the earlier result will be removed.
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- Police: ‘Avoid contact’ after Indian variant found in North Yorkshire
- Public Health England monitoring covid variant reported in Yorkshire
Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 11 per 100,000 people.
In North Yorkshire, the average is 13 and the England rate is 22.
One covid case reported in Harrogate districtJust one positive case of covid have been reported in the Harrogate district.
According to latest Public Health England figures, the total number of infections since last March stands at 7,733.
Yesterday, the government has changed the way it records daily cases of coronavirus in England.
The daily number of cases reported is based on PCR and lateral flow tests returning positive results. However, if someone with a positive lateral flow test later has a negative result with a PCR test, the earlier result will be removed.
Meanwhile, no further deaths form patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.
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- Total vaccine doses in Harrogate district near 170,000
- Police: ‘Avoid contact’ after Indian variant found in North Yorkshire
- Public Health England monitoring covid variant reported in Yorkshire
The death toll at the hospital remains at 179 since last March.
The last reported covid death at the hospital was on April 11.
Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 12 per 100,000 people.
In North Yorkshire, the average is 13 and the England rate is 22.
Total vaccine doses in Harrogate district near 170,000Nearly 170,000 covid vaccine doses have been given in the Harrogate district, according to the latest government figures.
Public Health England data show that a total of 168,858 have been given.
The number includes 104,487 first vaccines and 63,371 second jabs.
Figures show that first doses have steadily increased throughout this month, with the latest data showing 1,011 people received a first jab on May 19.
As demonstrated by the graph below, April saw the number of those receiving their first covid vaccine plateau due to a national shortage in supply.
First doses (green) and second doses (blue) of covid vaccines in the Harrogate district since December 2020. Data: Public Health England.
Since then, numbers have gradually increased and those in their 30s are now being invited to book their first appointment.
Read more:
- Harrogate and Ripon vaccine centres to close in August
- Police: ‘Avoid contact’ after Indian variant found in North Yorkshire
- Public Health England monitoring covid variant reported in Yorkshire
Currently, those aged 32 and over are eligible to come forward for a vaccine.
It comes as two vaccination centres in the Harrogate district are set to close in August.
Both the Great Yorkshire Showground and Ripon Racecourse will close down. The two GP-led sites have administered more than 120,000 jabs so far.
However, the pharmacy sites in Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge will remain open.
Dr Ian Dilley, a GP partner at East Parade Surgery in Harrogate and clinical director of the Mowbray Square Primary Care Network, said earlier this week:
Deer rescued from rising water at How Stean Gorge“With the huge number of people now vaccinated in the local area, we feel August is an appropriate end date.
“We need to be mindful of the other pressures that will be placed on doctors’ surgeries as we head towards autumn and winter, and the annual flu vaccine campaigns that GP practices need to provide.
“We also need to enable our kind hosts at the Yorkshire Events Centre and Ripon Racecourse to provide their own events as restrictions continue to be eased and more public events are permitted.”
Staff at How Stean Gorge rescued a deer from high water yesterday after it got trapped.
Heavy rainfall across the Harrogate district caused water levels to rise high at the gorge.
Three members of staff rescued the deer, which had got trapped in the rising water yesterday morning.
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Jeff Stewart, who works at How Stean Gorge in Lofthouse, told the Stray Ferret that the deer was “pretty exhausted” following the rescue and was taken to shelter to rest.
Jeff along with Tony Liddy, head of operations, went out to rescue the deer after being alerted to its situation at 10.30am.
In order to reach the deer, Jeff led Tony out into the rising water on a rope so that he would not wash away.
By the time the deer was brought back to shelter, Jeff said the deer could not walk due to exhaustion.
He said:
“It was exhausted, but it was breathing fine and did not have any visible injuries.
“But it was absolutely exhausted and the moment it came in it went into the corner.”
The district was hit by persistent rainfall yesterday and is forecast more rain next week.
A flood warning is still in place for the River Are near Boroughbridge after several days of heavy rainfall.
Three covid cases reported in Harrogate districtThree positive cases of covid have been reported in the Harrogate district.
According to Public Health England figures, the total number of infections since last March stands at 7,732.
As of today, the Government has changed the way it records daily cases of coronavirus in England.
The daily number of cases reported is based on PCR and lateral flow tests returning positive results. However, if someone with a positive lateral flow test later has a negative result with a PCR test, the earlier result will be removed.
Read more:
- Harrogate and Ripon vaccine centres to close in August
- Public Health England monitoring covid variant reported in Yorkshire
Public Health England said on its website:
“The way cases are reported in England has changed. Reported cases are sometimes removed if subsequent tests are negative.
“This happens when cases identified through a positive rapid lateral flow test are followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests within three days that are all negative. These cases are now being removed daily.”
Meanwhile, no further deaths form patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.
The death toll at the hospital remains at 179 since last March.
The last reported covid death at the hospital was on April 11.
Appeal after cyclist seriously injured in WhixleyPolice are appealing for witnesses after a cyclist was left seriously injured in Whixley.
The man, who is in his 50s, remains in a serious condition in hospital.
North Yorkshire Police are investigating the incident, which happened on Station Road in the village on May 12.
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A police statement said:
Public Health England monitoring covid variant reported in Yorkshire“The incident happened at around 1.10pm on Wednesday 12 May 2021 on Station Road in Whixley, when the cyclist, a man in his 50s, was found in the carriageway with serious injuries.
“He was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition.
“Officers would like to speak to anyone who stopped to help at the scene and has not already spoken to the police and to anyone who may have seen the cyclist prior to the incident, witnessed the incident or has any dash cam footage of the cyclist or the incident.
“Anyone who can help the investigation is asked to email Marie.Williams@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1 and pass information to the Force Control Room.
“Please quote incident reference number 12210116961.”
Public Health England is monitoring a new variant of covid that has been reported in Yorkshire.
The VUI-21MAY-01 strain has so far had 49 positive cases confirmed, most of them within the Yorkshire and Humber region, and PHE has been monitoring it since April.
PHE said on its website that it had increased testing and that there was “no evidence” that it rendered vaccines less effective.
The government agency said:
“There is currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe disease or renders the vaccines currently deployed any less effective.
“PHE is carrying out increased laboratory testing to better understand the impact of the mutations on the behaviour of the virus.”
It added:
“All appropriate public health interventions are being undertaken, including additional contact tracing and targeted testing.
“Where cases have been identified, additional follow-up of cases, testing of contacts and targeted case finding will limit the spread of variants.”
Read more:
- Harrogate and Ripon vaccine centres to close in August
- Police: ‘Avoid contact’ after Indian variant found in North Yorkshire
It comes as public health bosses in North Yorkshire confirmed that cases of the B16172 variant, the so-called Indian variant, had been identified in the county.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Louise Wallace, director of public health for North Yorkshire, said the county was still “well prepared” to deal with any variants of concern and that the advice to residents remained the same.
She said:
Spofforth residents ‘not surprised’ by 72 homes appeal“There have been a small number of cases of the Indian variant identified across North Yorkshire.
“As the public would expect, national Test and Trace and Public Health England have been working together to identify and follow up the cases and their contacts to minimise the risk of spread.
“Our public health advice remains the same whatever the variant of covid – continue with the basics of hands, face, space and fresh air, and meet people outside rather than inside as much as possible.”
A leading figure in the fight against plans to build 72 homes in Spofforth has urged the government to reject it as the battle was reignited this week.
Yorkshire Housing has challenged Harrogate Borough Council’s decision to reject its proposal for the site on Massey Fold.
The developer already has outline permission to build on the site but councillors turned down an application for appearance and landscaping in November.
Chris Heslop, a third-generation farmer and parish councillor in the village, said the development would turn the village into a “carbuncle of urban sprawl” when it went before the council.
Speaking yesterday, he said he wasn’t surprised Yorkshire Housing had challenged the decision, which will now be decided by the government’s Planning Inspectorate.
Mr Heslop said:
“I just hope that during the appeal they uphold the decision that was made. There is nothing really we can do about it.
“Spofforth needs housing and it needs a level of low-cost housing, but this would not meet those needs.”
Read more:
More than 300 local people and organisations, including Natural England and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, have raised concerns about the scheme.
In its decision notice, the council said the plan would have a “detrimental urbanising impact upon the character and setting of Spofforth”.
But, in a statement of case by planning lawyers Walton & Co, which is representing the developers, said the “solitary” reason for refusal was “expressed in generic language”.
It said:
“It is therefore unclear which particular aspect of the layout or design of the proposed scheme is considered to give rise to such impacts, and the assertions made in the reason for refusal are entirely unsubstantiated.”
A decision on the appeal will be made by the government at a later date.
Just one covid case reported in Harrogate districtJust one covid case has been recorded in the Harrogate district, according to today’s Public Health England figures.
No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England figures.
The last covid death was confirmed in on April 11.
Read more:
It means the covid death toll at the hospital remains at 179.
Meanwhile, latest vaccination figures show 103,456 people in the district have received a first dose of a covid vaccine.
A total of 63,624 have had a second vaccine so far.
Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate has dropped to 13 infections per 100,000 people.
The North Yorkshire average is 15 and the England rate stands at 20.
Investigation into hole in the ground at Ripon Leisure CentreHarrogate Borough Council is to investigate a hole in the ground that’s appeared at Ripon Leisure Centre.
In a report due before senior councillors next week, the authority said it is required to investigate the “void in the ground” in order to retain its business insurance on the building.
The city has a history of sinkholes caused by the soluble of nature gypsum, the rock that lies under much of the area.
Construction firm Willmott Dixon was awarded a £10.2 million contract last year to build the pool and refurbish the leisure centre. It is due to be complete in November 2021.
Read more:
The hole was discovered next to the entrance of the existing leisure centre last year and has been filled with crushed gravel as a short-term solution.
However, consultant engineers have told the council that further investigation will be required and remedial work if necessary.
The current insured value of the centre is £3,796,135 plus 10% contents, which the authority says would be lost should any damage be caused as a result of the work.
But, council officers have said this would be a “worst case scenario” and is considered to be an “unlikely event”.
In order to carry out the work, the council will have to self-insure as it says it will not be covered by any third-party insurance.
A report due before the council’s cabinet next week says:
“In order to retain the benefit of our existing insurance cover in the future, the council is obliged to mitigate known issues which could have an effect on this insurance cover.
“The discovery of a void by the existing leisure centre is an issue which needs investigating and remedial works undertaken if necessary.
“If the remedial works are not undertaken, the council’s insurers have stated that subsequent losses would not be insured.
“However during the period of time these investigation and remediation works are ongoing they would not be covered by insurance therefore the council would have to self-insure for all non-negligent damage claims arising.”
It added that the engineers found that the hole had been there “for some time” and was not a result of the current work at the leisure centre site.
Councillors have been recommended to approve the investigation, which is estimated to cost £110,000, and any remedial works.
The Stray Ferret asked the borough council what caused the hole to appear, how wide it was and if any further voids or sinkholes had been found.
A council spokesman said:
“As a result of the reduced level dig – to prepare the new swimming pool site – for the casting of the reinforced concrete foundation slab, a void was discovered under an area of the existing leisure centre.
“This void, which is understood to have been present a number of years, will now be investigated further.
“While this will need to be resolved, we are fortunate that it was discovered as part of the multi-million pound Ripon Leisure Centre improvement project, and we can now carry out the necessary remedial works in the coming months.
“And once the whole project is complete, the leisure centre will provide the much-needed modern facilities that will encourage a healthier and more active lifestyle for our residents and something they can be proud of for years to come.”
Concerns over the Leisure Centre site
Cllr Andrew Williams, leader of Ripon City Council, said the authority had asked the borough council about concerns over the site before.
Sixteen months before Harrogate council approved the project in 2019 to build the new swimming pool, a sinkhole appeared in the leisure centre car park.
Cllr Williams said:
“If there is ongoing problem with the build site then it is in the public interest to know.”
Ground instability problems caused by the soluble nature of gypsum have been seen in many parts of Ripon.
The Stray Ferret reported in October 2020 about the evacuation of a residential block at Bedern Court, caused by subsidence in the area.
In February 2018, a sinkhole opened up on the car park of Ripon Leisure Centre, off Dallamires Lane.
In 2016, a dozen homes in Magdalens Road were evacuated after a 66-ft wide sinkhole opened up.