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.

Harrogate council proposes council tax hike

Harrogate Borough Council is to propose a £5 increase in council tax next year — the maximum amount permitted.

The proposed £5 hike would see the average band D property bill increase from £245.92 to £250.92.

The local authority, which is planning its budget for 2021/22, generated £15.6 million in council tax in the current financial year.

If the £5 increase goes ahead, it will receive an additional £392,000, bringing the total to £16 million.

The council also plans to make £1.14 million spending cuts to balance its books.

This would largely come from a review of its park and environmental services department and by setting up a new company to run leisure facilities.

The £5 increase represents the most a district council can propose for council tax — a 2% increase or £5, whichever is highest.

Anything further would require a local referendum.

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In a report due before senior councillors this week, Paul Foster, head of finance at the borough council, said the authority faced “unprecedented financial determinant” due to the pandemic.

He said:

“The financial implications are challenging to estimate with certainty as there continue to be a number of unknowns.

“From how long, and to what extent, national and local restrictions will continue to what measures will remain to combat the spread of virus, to what recovery will look like, such as how our customers will behave over time.”

Mr Foster added the council has “not been immune” to funding cuts from central government and has seen its general grant allocation reduced by £8.2 million since 2010.

The budget proposal is set to be discussed at a cabinet meeting on January 6 before going before full council at a later date.

£27 county council rise

It comes as North Yorkshire County Council and North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner are expected to outline plans for their share of council tax this month.

Last month, county council officials said they were considering a 1.99% increase — equivalent to a £27 rise.

The move comes amid pressures from coronavirus and cuts in funding from central government.

The county council had anticipated a funding gap of £186 million by next year due to austerity. However, it has since found £173 million in savings.

Now the authority needs to find £103 million over the next three years to cover loss of central government funding.

Harrogate district records highest daily coronavirus cases

The Harrogate district has recorded its highest daily number of coronavirus infections since the start of the pandemic with 101 positive tests.

It takes the total number of cases since March up to 4,412.

The number surpasses the previous daily high of 95, which was reported on November 9 shortly after the second lockdown began.

It comes as North Yorkshire was placed in tier three yesterday amid fears of surging covid cases.

In further bad news, another coronavirus death has been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

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It takes the total number of deaths at the hospital from patients who tested positive for coronavirus to 107.

Meanwhile, the seven-day rate of infection in the district has increased to 141 per 100,000 people, but remains the lowest in the county.

The county average is 207 and the England average is 414.

Yesterday, senior health officials in North Yorkshire appealed for patience over the vaccination programme amid concern by some people about a lack of information.

Vaccination for the Pfizer-BioNTech jab got underway this month at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.

Harrogate council handed £405,000 to tackle homelessness

Harrogate Borough Council has been allocated £405,000 to tackle homelessness in the district.

The funding is from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s homelessness prevention grant stream.

Grants totalling £310 million have been awarded to local authorities nationally.

The funding can be used to provide temporary accommodation for rough sleepers, to offer financial support for people to find a new home or to prevent evictions.

Kelly Tolhurst, minster for housing and rough sleeping, said the funding would “help councils provide better support to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place as we look to end rough sleeping once and for all”.

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Harrogate homeless shelters

The council has erected temporary emergency homeless units on Tower Street in Harrogate for rough sleepers to use when temperatures drop this winter.

However, despite the recent cold snap they have still yet to be used.

The four units are set to be in place for three months.

A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council confirmed today the accommodation has yet to be used.

 

Harrogate district R number rises above one

The R number for the Harrogate district has risen above one for the first time in over a month.

It means the virus is now spreading faster in the district than it is being eradicated.

The R number refers to the rate at which the virus is reproducing. The latest increase means every 10 people infected will pass it on to 11.

The sub-districts with the most infections are Starbeck and Ouseburn, Hammerton and Tockwith, which have both recorded 20 in the last seven days.

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It comes as North Yorkshire is braced for a tier review tomorrow which could see the county placed under tougher restrictions.

The Harrogate district recorded a further 47 cases of coronavirus today, according to Public Health England.

It takes the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic up to 4,258.

The seven-day rate of infection in the district has increased to 126 per 100,000 people but remains the lowest in North Yorkshire.

Hambleton is the highest with 291 after its case average has soared in the last week.

Harrogate District Hospital also confirmed its first death since December 10 from a patient who tested positive for coronavirus.

The total number of coronavirus deaths at the hospital now stands at 107.

Will Harrogate district change tier in tomorrow’s review?

Another government tier review is scheduled for tomorrow amid rising coronavirus cases across the country.

The Harrogate district avoided harsher restrictions in last week’s review and stayed in tier two, despite other areas being placed in tier four.

However, the district has seen a gradual increase in both infections and the R number since then.

There has also been talk of tougher restrictions everywhere to combat the new mutant strain of the virus.

North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which represents agencies that combat covid, has called an urgent media briefing tomorrow to respond to rising transmissions rates and Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s tier announcement.

Rising case rates

The Harrogate district’s seven-day infection rate has increased since the last tier review on December 23 but remains the lowest in the county.

Last week, the district reported a rate of 86 infections per 100,000 people. That has risen to 115.

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But there is widespread concern about soaring rates elsewhere in the county, which could drag all of North Yorkshire into a higher tier.

Recently, public health bosses expressed concerns about Scarborough’s rate. But the borough’s rate, which was the highest in the county last week at 264, has since dropped to 215.

Hambleton, however, has seen its rate rocket from 100 to 242, according to the most recent figures.

The county-wide average stands at 165, which is still below the national rate.

By comparison, Peterborough, which is in tier four, has a rate of 412 cases per 100,000 people.

The Harrogate district’s much lower rate gives hope it may again escape being moved up a tier.

Hospital admissions

There is widespread national concern about the rise in covid hospital admissions.

Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, warned the country was “back in the eye of the storm” after figures showed that 20,426 patients were being treated in hospitals on Monday.

The number is an increase on 18,976 recorded on April 12 during the peak of the first lockdown.

Locally, most recent figures show 14 covid patients are currently being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.

Image gallery: Harrogate district covered in festive snow

People across the Harrogate district woke this morning to festive snow landscapes as severe weather hit the district overnight.

Temperatures dropped below freezing and roads became treacherous in the early hours of this morning due to the conditions.

But the blanket of white snow across the Stray in Harrogate complemented by the bright lights of Christmas decorations created a prime opportunity for photographers.

Elsewhere, people near Beckwithshaw and Boroughbridge took the chance to capture the snowfall outside their homes.

Here a few of our pictures below. If you have any snow day pictures that you would like to share with us, send them to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Snow covering the West Park Stray earlier this morning.

Snow covering the West Park Stray earlier this morning.

A blanket of snow covered the Stray overnight.

A blanket of snow covered the Stray overnight.

Christmas decorations in Harrogate Town centre complemented by the snow this morning.

Christmas decorations in Harrogate Town centre complemented by the snow this morning.

Snow pictured near Beckwithshaw.

Snow pictured near Beckwithshaw.

Picturesque shot of the bridge over the railway near Tewit Well. Picture: Mark Pallant.

Picturesque shot of the bridge over the railway near Tewit Well. Picture: Mark Pallant.

Good morning from Harlow Hill #Harrogate. #Snowuk #snow pic.twitter.com/GW8Bbi189F

— HAPARA (@HaparaHgt) December 29, 2020

A slightly snowy #knaresborough this morning #snow #winter #yorkshire pic.twitter.com/S6Mu6IG0oL

— Melanie Ball (@knaresphoto) December 29, 2020

Video of Boroughbridge by Carly Gibson

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