700 Harrogate hospital staff to be vaccinated this week

Hundreds of hospital staff in Harrogate have had their first doses of the coronavirus vaccine.

On Monday, Harrogate District Hospital began offering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to its staff after the first batch was delivered.

Seven hundred staff have been booked in this week to be vaccinated and 266 had received the jab after the first two days of the programme.

A total of 820 staff from high risk categories were invited to be inoculated first.

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Speaking after receiving her vaccine on Monday, Lorraine Robinson, assistant team leader of medical records, said:
“It was a necessity to have this vaccination because I have two auto-immune conditions and my husband is classed as vulnerable because he has an auto-immune condition.
“I’ve got elderly parents and a young grandson. I’ve had this to protect myself, my family and the patients we deal with.”

It comes as public health officials in North Yorkshire said they expected the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine to arrive in the county by the end of the week.

It means more care home residents will be able to access the vaccine as it is easier to transport.

The government has ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine, however just 530,000 were cleared for use earlier this week.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said yesterday the NHS would begin to publish daily figures on the number of vaccinations from next week.

Harrogate district covid cases hit another high as 157 confirmed

The Harrogate district’s daily coronavirus cases hit another record high today as infection rates continues to soar.

Latest Public Health England data show a further 157 people tested positive in the last 24 hours.

The figure is an increase on the previous record high of 141 on Monday.

It takes the total number of cases in the district since the start of the pandemic to 5,040.

Central Harrogate is the worst affected area, with 43 infections in the last seven days.

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The district’s seven-day infection rate has now increased to 387 people per 100,000. Richmondshire remains the highest district rate in the county with 469.

The county-wide rate stands at 399, and the England average is 608.

The figures come as public health bosses in North Yorkshire warned yesterday that case rates will likely worsen over the next two weeks.

Officials said the new variant of coronavirus, which spreads between people easily, was almost certainly in the county.

 

£60 million A59 Kex Gill reroute in line for approval

A major plan to build a three-mile reroute of the A59 at Kex Gill near Harrogate is in line for approval next week.

The £60 million project is due to go before North Yorkshire County Council’s planning committee and council officers have recommended that the application is approved.

The project would take a year to complete and see the creation of a diversion west of Blubberhouses at Kex Gill.

It comes as the site has a long history of landslips, which have blighted travel on the road for years.

County council bosses have bid for funding from the Department for Transport and brought in consultants WSP to draw up blueprints for the diversion.

The site on the A59 at Kex Gill, which has a history of landslips.

The site on the A59 at Kex Gill, which has a history of landslips.

The government has indicated it will offer up to £56 million towards the project, with the county council covering the remaining £4.95 million.

In its planning statement, the authority said intervention was required to protect road users.

It said:

“Without intervention the evidence suggests that the road and road users continue to be at significant risk from future and more severe landslips; potentially resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.

“Due to the nature of the landslips at Kex Gill, it is considered that it is necessary to realign the vulnerable section of the A59.”

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Landslips in recent years have caused weeks of disruption.

In January 2016, the road was closed for eight weeks and traffic diverted through Ilkley and Otley after heavy rain caused a landslip.

According to the council’s planning documents, between October 2000 and May 2019, five landslips were recorded at the site and the retaining wall failed four times.

In that time, the total cost to repair the damage, which include works to resurface the road or repair damage to the retaining walls, is estimated to be £2.23 million.

Should the project be approved and work start in the summer, Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said it could begin without traffic disruption.

However, he told the Stray Ferret back in November that some disruption may happen when the road is aligned with the existing A59.

Councillors will vote on the application on Tuesday.

Harrogate businesses could get grants of up to £9,000

Harrogate businesses could be in line for further financial support as more grants have been announced by the government.

Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, unveiled a one-off top up grant of up to £9,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses amid the national lockdown.

The funding comes as part of a £4.6 billion package and the grants will be based on the rateable value of each business.

The government expects the grants will help to support more than 600,000 businesses.

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Mr Sunak also announced a further £594 million worth of discretionary funding for local authorities to target those who will not be eligible for the grant but might be affected by the lockdown.

He said:

“The new strain of the virus presents us all with a huge challenge – and whilst the vaccine is being rolled out, we have needed to tighten restrictions further.

“Throughout the pandemic we’ve taken swift action to protect lives and livelihoods and today we’re announcing a further cash injection to support businesses and jobs until the Spring.

“This will help businesses to get through the months ahead – and crucially it will help sustain jobs, so workers can be ready to return when they are able to reopen.”

It comes as businesses in the district reacted to the announcement of a further national lockdown.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday evening that a new lockdown would come into force, with a stay at home order.

Sandra Doherty, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said the measures would be difficult but were necessary to reduce transmission until the vaccination took effect. She said:

“It’s going to be incredibly tough for all businesses over the coming months, and sadly not all will survive into the spring.

“Until we can resume life as we knew it in pre-covid days, the Government is going to have to continue its support to businesses, and extend it to those self-employed people who have so far not received any financial help at all.”

In numbers: rapidly growing covid infection rate in Harrogate district

A total of 973 coronavirus cases were recorded throughout December in the Harrogate district as the country headed for a national lockdown.

The number represents fewer cases than in October and the second lockdown, but the month saw some of the highest daily infections as the new year approached.

The district’s spiking numbers were among those contributing to this week’s decision to introduce a new national lockdown, announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday evening.

Fewer cases, but higher daily numbers in December

December saw 973 cases in the Harrogate District, fewer than the 1,119 during the November lockdown and 1,353 in October.

But, while there were fewer positive tests, the daily cases hit record highs towards the end of the month.

The number of cases of coronavirus and reported hospital patient deaths for December in the Harrogate district. Data: Public Health England/NHS. Graph: the Stray Ferret.

The number of cases of coronavirus and reported hospital patient deaths for December in the Harrogate district. Data: Public Health England/NHS. Graph: the Stray Ferret.

On December 29, 103 cases were reported – which was an all time high in the district until Monday’s figure of 141.

The lowest daily number was 10 new cases on December 10.

While daily cases in the district started out low at the start of December, the numbers began to rise as the month wore on.

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Case rate increase

The seven-day case rate in the district also steadily increased throughout the month.

The rate was the lowest in North Yorkshire for much of December. However, Harrogate’s average rate increased, along with the other six districts, throughout December.

On December 10, the rate hit a low of 79 per 100,000 people. By the end of the month, it was 269.

Meanwhile, nine deaths from patients who tested positive for coronavirus were recorded at Harrogate District Hospital in December.

New variant of coronavirus

Much of the rise in cases in the south of England has been put down to the new variant of coronavirus, which experts say spreads more easily.

At a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, a partnership of emergency agencies, public health bosses said the new variant of coronavirus was almost certainly in the county.

Officials warned that the coronavirus case rates will likely worsen over the next two weeks.

Dr Victoria Turner, a public health consultant at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“We have talked for the last couple of weeks about the new variant that has been spreading from the south east of England.

“I mean we will certainly have cases of this in North Yorkshire.

“Now we have to act as if this is the predominant form of the virus across the country. We should treat every cases as the new variant.”

Harrogate district’s R number increases amid third lockdown

The Harrogate district’s R number has increased to 2.1 as the country enters another national lockdown.

It means the virus is spreading more in the district and for every 10 people infected, it spreads to 21 more.

The number, which refers to the reproduction rate, has increased over the past three weeks as cases continue to rise.

On December 15, the figure was just 0.6 – meaning the number of new cases was falling – but it now stands at 2.1 today.

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It comes as today’s figures revealed a further 95 cases of coronavirus in the district, taking the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic up to 4,883.

Meanwhile, the district no longer has the lowest seven-day case rate in North Yorkshire. The average increased to 359 per 100,000 people. Ryedale is now the lowest with 320, while Richmondshire remains the highest at 480.

Public health bosses in North Yorkshire today warned that cases will likely worsen in the county in the coming weeks until the lockdown begins to take effect.

The daily cases in the Harrogate District hit a record high yesterday after 141 were confirmed. Officials said today the new variant of coronavirus was almost certainly in the county.

Harrogate district prepares as national lockdown announced

The Harrogate district will see its schools and non-essential shops closed with immediate effect as a new national lockdown begins.

In response to an “alarming” rise in coronavirus cases, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the new restrictions this evening.

Mr Johnson announced that people across England will be asked to stay at home from tonight, only leaving for essential shopping, medical needs, work where it cannot be done from home, and to escape domestic violence.

The late announcement of school closures, though not unexpected, is likely to cause concern for parents who once again find themselves supporting home schooling and juggling work with childcare.

Mr Johnson said:

“We have been doing everything in our power to keep the schools open because we know how important each day in education is to children’s life chances…

“I want to stress that the problem isn’t that schools are unsafe for children. The problem is that schools may nonetheless act as vectors for transmission, causing the virus to spread between households.”

MPs will be recalled to Parliament on Wednesday to vote on the measures. The Prime Minister said they would come into force from the early hours of the morning, leaving MPs to vote retrospectively. He added:

“Now, more than ever, we must pull together. You must follow the new rules.”

Mr Johnson concluded his announcement with the same message as he gave when last March’s first lockdown was announced: “Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.”

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It comes as cases across the country have soared along with hospital admissions in parts of the south.

Last week, daily cases in the Harrogate district hit a record high as more than 100 infections were confirmed. That high was beaten by today’s announcement of 141 new cases.

Meanwhile, residents are raising concerns about whether the vaccine is being delivered in the district, after the vaccination centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground remained closed for much of the Christmas and new year break.

Are you ready for the new lockdown? What will the impact be on your family, work or business? Send your views to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Growing concern in Harrogate district over lack of communication on covid vaccine

Vulnerable residents in Harrogate have raised concerns over the lack of communication for the coronavirus vaccine, as the centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground appears to have been closed over Christmas.

Several concerned residents contacted the Stray Ferret and reported the centre being closed for multiple days over Christmas and New Year. It remained closed on Sunday and had not reopened this morning.

Some of those who got in touch are in their 80s and said they have not heard anything on when they may get the jab, which they should be eligible for in the first round of vaccinations.

David Hill, 82, a local resident who is expecting to be notified about his vaccination, said his friends were becoming frustrated with the process.

He said most of those aged over 80 have yet to be contacted about their first dose.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“They are not going outside much, they are scared about going out. They are watching the news all day long and waiting for a text for the jab and they are not getting it.

“I do feel that they are getting stressed out beyond words.”

The centre was first opened on December 22, with 83-year-old Anne among the first to be vaccinated and a couple from Bilton receiving the jab a week after their 60th wedding anniversary.

It followed the approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which was rolled out at hospitals and local vaccination sites across the country.

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The site appealed for volunteers to help marshal the car park and signpost patients. It opened with a morning session from 8.30am until 1.15pm and afternoon vaccinations from 2.30pm to 6.15pm.

But it appears to have been closed over several days at Christmas, with residents reporting the gates shut and no activity at the site. Residents have been contacting the Stray Ferret to ask when and how they will be notified about the jab, and why the vaccination centre appears to be closed.

The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group to confirm how many days it had been in use over Christmas and why it had been closed, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

The group has yet to comment publicly at all on the vaccination centre, even to confirm its location – despite extensive signage around the site and some people having been invited for appointments last month.

The vaccine centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

The vaccine centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground, which opened on December 22.

Last month, local health bosses appealed for people to be patient over the rollout of the vaccine and the lack of information.

Richard Webb, North Yorkshire County Council’s director of health and adult services, said the NHS was working “as quickly as possible” to administer the vaccine and that residents should wait to be contacted by their GP or local NHS trust.

Mr Webb added:

“Our colleagues in the NHS are working around the clock to prepare to receive the latest batches of vaccines. Please be patient, it’s a massive logistical issue.

“They are moving as quickly as possible to get people vaccinated.”

Despite the reassurances, the apparent closure of the centre during the Christmas break has led more people to contact the Stray Ferret. We will continue to ask the CCG for information about what is happening at the site.

NHS England figures up to December 31 show a total of 786,000 people have received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

However, the data does not include a breakdown by region. It remains unclear how many have been vaccinated in the Harrogate district.

Meanwhile, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said this morning that 530,000 does of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will be rolled out at six hospitals this week.

The government has ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine and is planning on delivering two million a week by the middle of January.

Harrogate district daily coronavirus cases hit another record high

The number of daily coronavirus cases in the Harrogate district has reached another record high with 141 positive tests confirmed in the last 24 hours.

The figure is an increase on the previous high reported on December 31, when 101 were recorded across the district by Public Health England.

It takes the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic up to 4,788.

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The seven-day rate of infection in the district has also increased to 297 per 100,000 people. However, it remains the lowest rate in North Yorkshire, with Richmondshire the highest on 465.

Meanwhile, a further patient who tested positive for coronavirus has died at Harrogate District Hospital.

The latest death, which took place yesterday, January 3, takes the total number of deaths reported at the hospital since March up to 110.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to make an announcement tonight on a further restrictions for England.

Seventy-two further coronavirus cases as district’s rate rises

A further 72 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases up to 4,647.

The district’s seven-day case rate has increased to 235 per 100,000 people, but remains the lowest in North Yorkshire.

Richmondshire is now the district with the highest rate at 357, followed by Hambleton on 343 and Scarborough on 293.

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The county-wide average stands at 286 per 100,000, below the national rate of 481.

Meanwhile, no further deaths from patients who tested positive for coronavirus have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

Since March, 109 patients diagnosed with coronavirus have died at the hospital; the last of these was recorded on December 28.