Tier one ‘did not work’, says North Yorkshire public health boss

North Yorkshire’s top public health boss has said tier one lockdown restrictions “did not work” and had “no teeth”.

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of public health at the county council, said the measures did not give people “a sense of seriousness about the situation”.

The England lockdown is due to end on December 2 and county council leaders said they expect to hear from ministers on what restrictions will be introduced at the end of next week.

North Yorkshire was under tier one restrictions, which meant people followed national guidance with no further restrictions.

But Dr Sargeant told a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, a partnership of emergency agencies, that those in tier two restrictions tackled coronavirus better.

He said:

“There are some things we know for certain. Tier one did not really work, it did not give the public a sense of the seriousness of the situation.

“It just did not have the teeth. We were saying that for some time, we were saying that the issues in North Yorkshire were around household spread and mixing.

“It was not until tier two that you really had measures that would address that particular issue.”

He added that there needed to be “consistency and consensus” from political leaders over what the restrictions will be after lockdown in order for the public to take measures seriously.

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Meanwhile, Dr Sargeant said data appeared to show infections were “plateauing”, but stopped short of saying lockdown measures had worked.

He said:

“We are hopefully beginning to see, particularly in the data around hospitalisations, perhaps the beginning of a plateauing.

“I am very hesitant to say that this is definitely showing a sustained effect of lockdown. We expect to see the effect of lockdown beginning to show this week into next.

“But there is some suggestion that we might be levelling off and we need to keep watching that and hope that it is sustained.”

The briefing also revealed the number of covid patients at Harrogate District Hospital has remained flat. Currently, 27 people are being treated compared with 28 last week.

Harrogate’s testing site on Dragon Road is averaging 180 tests per day, well below its capacity of 320.

Yesterday, Public Health England figures showed a further 48 positive tests in the district, taking the total cases since March up to 3,204.

Following a change by Public Health England into how it records cases, the total number of cases in the district has fallen by 201.

Positive tests are now recorded by where the test is carried out, instead of where the person is registered with the NHS.

£7 million for Harrogate district businesses affected by covid

Government grants worth more than £7 million will be awarded to Harrogate district businesses affected by lockdown.

The government announced the funding after non-essential shops, pubs and restaurants were forced to close throughout November.

Businesses in the district have faced a tough time during the lockdown, with some saying it came at the “worst possible time”.

Now the borough council has been given £7,127,446 in total to support businesses affected by the lockdown.

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The funding is available in two separate grant streams.

The UK government’s Additional Restrictions Grant scheme is for businesses forced to close that do not directly pay business rates, as well as those that do not have to close but have been impacted by the lockdown.

This could include businesses that supply retail, hospitality and leisure services. However, the borough council has yet to open applications for the grants.

Open ‘as soon as possible’

Nadhim Zahawi MP, minister for business and industry, confirmed in a written statement to Parliament that local authorities have been allocated funding for the scheme. Harrogate Borough Council has been given £3,216,620.

A spokesperson for the authority said the scheme would be open “as soon as possible”.

The other tranche of funding is from the government’s Local Restrictions Support Grant, which the council will also administer.

The government has allocated the council £3,910,086 for the scheme, which would see businesses offered grants up to £3,000 depending on their rateable value.

It is aimed at businesses that were open as usual, but were then required to close by law due to the national lockdown for 28 days.

It will support “in-person services”, such as non-essential retail, leisure and hospitality.

To be eligible, businesses must have been forced to close for at least 14 days because of the restrictions, be unable to provide their usual in-person service and be paying business rates to qualify.

The borough council has opened applications for the local restrictions grant.

Ripon charity uses robot cats to help dementia sufferers

Dementia sufferers in North Yorkshire have received a new gift to keep their spirits up during lockdown — robot cats.

Knaresborough Rotary Club funded 50 cats for Dementia Forward, a Ripon-based charity that supports people with dementia.

Each robot weighs about the same as a cat and interacts in a lifelike way, creating a calming effect.

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Jill Quinn, chief executive of Dementia Forward, said people had become attached to the cats after the charity trialed them.

She said:

“They are very lifelike and purr and react when they are stroked.

“They can provide comfort for a person with dementia who is anxious or unable to settle by providing a calming effect.

“One example we witnessed was a woman who was very into arts and crafts, but her dementia meant that she would get anxious and wasn’t able to stay involved in any activity.

“But once we placed the cat on her knee she sat and stroked it – it created a calming distraction which enabled her to stay focussed and enjoy the activity.”

The cats are part of a wider effort to find innovative ways to help people during the pandemic and lockdown.

Dementia Forward, which is funded by North Yorkshire County Council to provide dementia support in the county, has launched a ‘cafe in a box’ scheme.

The initiative involves delivering boxes tailored to each individual interests, for instance puzzles, jigsaws, books, games, laminated jokes and sheets with activities.

Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate has donated teabags and biscuits to the boxes, hence the ‘cafe’ name.

Marie-Ann Jackson, head of stronger communities at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“Like many local organisations across the county who are unable to deliver their normal support services due to the current restrictions, Dementia Forward have come up with some wonderfully innovative and alternative ways to support people.

“The café in a box is such a great idea, especially as they are personalising the boxes so they are really tailored to be an individual’s interests.”

863 covid cases in Harrogate district so far this month

A total of 863 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district so far in November.

Analysis of figures from Public Health England shows how the number of cases has soared locally, although there are signs the rate may be flattening.

In the past week alone, 426 cases were confirmed in the district.

Daily covid cases and deaths reported at Harrogate District Hospital up to November 14. Data: Public Health England/NHS England. Graph: The Stray Ferret.

Daily covid cases and deaths reported at Harrogate District Hospital up to November 14. Data: Public Health England/NHS England. Graph: The Stray Ferret.

Unless infections fall significantly in the next fortnight, the monthly total will comfortably surpass the 1,353 recorded in October.

There were a record 95 infections on Monday last week but by Saturday the number had fallen to 34. The R number has also declined from 1.6 to 1.4.

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Meanwhile, the latest data from North Yorkshire County Council shows the average rate of infections per 100,000 people stands at 265 – down from a record high of 307 last week. The latest figure refers to the seven days to November 12.

The data overall suggests the impact of the national lockdown on November 5 may be having an effect.

Only one Harrogate district area – Knaresborough North – is currently in the top 10 places in the county for the most covid cases. It has recorded 46 infections in the last seven days.

Eight of the areas in the top 10 are in the Scarborough borough, with Filey and Hummanby reporting the most of all with 84.

North Knaresborough and central Harrogate are local covid hotspots

Knaresborough and Central Harrogate are the current covid hotspots in the Harrogate district, according to the latest government figures.

The seven-day average rate of infections in the week to November 10 reveals the two local areas each recorded 44 new cases — more than anywhere else.

Harrogate Central was the fourth highest local area in the district last week, with 26 cases. Knaresborough was not in the top five.

Both areas also appear in the top 10 list for the county.

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The Scarborough borough accounts for seven of the top 10 places, with Filey and Hummanby reporting the most of all with 79.

Dishthorpe, Baldersby and Markington reported the lowest number of cases in the Harrogate district with six.

Highest number of cases
1= Harrogate Central 44
1= Knaresborough 44
3 Harrogate East 37
5= Harrogate West and Pannal 36
5= Killinghall and Hampsthwaite 36

Lowest number of cases
1 Dishthorpe, Baldersby and Markington 6
2= Masham, Kirkby Malzeard and North Stainley 7
2= Pateley Bridge and Nidd Valley 7
4= Knaresborough Central 13
4= Ripon North and West 13

Harrogate district covid rate falls after record high

Harrogate district’s coronavirus seven-day rolling average has fallen after hitting a record high, according to latest figures.

Data from North Yorkshire County Council shows the average rate per 100,000 people stands at 285 – a drop from 307 last week.

The data was published yesterday and relates to infection levels in the seven days to November 12.

The district’s rate rose dramatically along with other areas of North Yorkshire in early November.

However, the district still has the second highest rate in the county and remains above the national average of 269.

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Scarborough has the highest weekly rate at 577, which has raised concern among county council bosses.

In another sign that rates in the Harrogate district may have peaked, the R number, which refers to the reproduction rate of the virus, has reduced from 1.6 a week ago to 1.4.

This means every 10 people that test positive in the district will infect another 14.

Last week, Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, warned last week that rates in the county were “soaring”.

He said:

“Infection rates are soaring in many areas.

“We had been doing very well and we went into the current lockdown in the lowest tier of intervention. Sadly, our current rates put us in a very different place.”

 

Harrogate district lit up in Christmas lights displays

While the pandemic means the festive season will be different this year, it has not stopped the traditional Christmas lights switch on in the Harrogate district.

Although there was no host or crowds to mark the occasion and the shops are closed, Harrogate and Ripon were still lit up ahead of Christmas.

In Harrogate, custom lights have been strung between buildings, around lampposts and in trees, including those in front of the war memorial at the top of Parliament Street.

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Ripon Christmas lights were switched on last night.

Ripon Christmas lights were switched on last night.

Meanwhile, Ripon has spent £65,000 on its decorations and lights which has been dubbed the city’s largest ever display.

Despite the lack of a traditional switch on with celebrity guests, we have been out filming so you can enjoy them.

If you want to support Harrogate retailers and buy your Xmas gifts locally go to our new Shop Local section

Two further coronavirus deaths at Harrogate hospital

Two coronavirus deaths have been confirmed on the same day at Harrogate District Hospital, according to latest NHS England figures.

Both deaths were recorded on November 11. It takes the total number confirmed at the hospital since the start of the pandemic to 93.

It comes as a further 53 coronavirus cases have been tested positive in the Harrogate district, according to today’s Public Health England data.

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The figure takes the total case number since March up to 3,300.

Meanwhile, the district’s weekly rate stands at 294 per 100,000 people.

It is the second highest in the county behind Scarborough, which stands at 580.

North Yorkshire is still tracking above the national average. The county has a rate of 311 compared with the England average of 267.

Villagers left devastated after fire at Coneythorpe pub

Neighbours have been left devastated after a fire at a much-loved community pub in Coneythorpe last night.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue were called to the Tiger Inn at 5.04pm after a fire broke out in the pub’s kitchen, which had only been fitted in January.

Crews from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Acomb were called out to the blaze which lasted for six-hours. Firefighters used an aerial ladder platform, main jets, breathing apparatus and hose reels to tackle the incident.

Owners said the fire was accidental and that they will be aim to reopen the pub “as soon as we possibly can”.

But neighbours say they are devastated as the pub is a pillar of the community in the village.

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One resident, Carole Topham said she saw smoke coming from the building before calling the fire service.

She said:

“We saw billowing smoke at first and called the fire bridge who spent hours at the site.

“We are devastated for the owners, this is our community pub and we were looking forward to a Christmas get together.”

The damage after the fire, which broke out in the pub’s new kitchen.

Meanwhile, Karin Terry, another neighbour, said:

“The flames got bigger and bigger.

“We were very worried about a gas tank that was at the back of the building.”

The fire is a blow for the pub, which traditionally hosts a village Christmas party.

A member of the Gill family, which owns the pub, said they were “gutted” and had been looking forward to celebrating Christmas with the villagers.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“Obviously the family is devastated about it. We had 15 weeks of closed down and reopened on July 2 and was almost as busy before we went into lockdown.

“We will reopen as soon as we possibly can do. We have just been speaking to the fire fighters today, it was an accidental fire and we just want to get back to where we have been.

“We are a bit gutted this year because we do a village Christmas party where all the villagers get together. We were struggling with the lockdown and social distancing and how we were going to fit everyone in.

“There’s about 70 odd people who live in the village and they all tend to get in here, but that’s gone out of the window now. We will just see when we can get reopen better and stronger than ever.”

Crews called to blaze at Coneythorpe pub

Fire crews from across North Yorkshire were called to a fire at a pub in Coneythorpe yesterday.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue were called to the incident at the Tiger Inn at 5.04pm.

Crews from Knaresborough, Harrogate, Acomb and appliances from Wetherby and Moortown were called out to the fire.

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Firefighters used an aerial ladder platform, main jets, breathing apparatus and hose reels to tackle the fire.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue will investigate the cause today (November 14).

If you witnessed the fire please get in touch at contact@thestrayferret.couk