A fourth patient has died from coronavirus at Harrogate District Hospital as the number of cases soars over 100.

The latest death in Harrogate comes as a further 367 patients with COVID-19 are confirmed as dead in England.

All of the patients were aged between 19 and 98 years old and all but 28 of them had underlying health conditions.

The number of confirmed cases in North Yorkshire is now at 108 just two weeks after Harrogate District Hospital admitted its first COVID-19 patient.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence is in the process of converting the Harrogate Convention Centre into a ‘Nightingale’ hospital to fight the coronavirus crisis.

Businesses in the Harrogate district set up as limited companies face a tough dilemma during the coronavirus lockdown.

Set up in Harrogate back in 2010, Myroo Skincare is now well-established for selling plant-based and cruelty-free products for sensitive skin.

But Myroo Skincare’s director Rachael Dunseath believes her business falls through the cracks on government support.

So far, the government has announced that businesses will be entitled to:

• £10,000 for those eligible for small business rate relief
• £25,000 and a 12-month business rates holiday for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure businesses
• The opportunity to furlough workers with the government covering 80% of their pay
• Self-employed grants up to 80% of their average monthly profit up to £2,500 a month

Rachael’s skincare business is not eligible for grant funding because she has no shops. She has no employees, other than herself, to furlough. As a limited company, she cannot claim the self-employed grant.

This is where Rachael’s dilemma comes into play. She could potentially put herself on furlough but because she is the sole employee it would put her business on ice.

Myroo Skincare is plant-based and cruelty-free for sensitive skin.

Coronavirus has been tough for many businesses, with most of the spas and shops Myroo Skincare usually supplies now closed for the foreseeable future.

That means that around 60% to 70% of Myroo Skincare’s sales have suddenly stopped.

Ever the optimist, Rachael sees this as an opportunity to build up the business’ direct sales but she believes that the government should be doing more to support limited companies like hers.

She told the Stray Ferret that people do not set up limited companies to get tax benefits but for protection, in case the business fails.

“I hope that I can keep the business ticking over solely through direct sales until the lockdown is over and some of the businesses I supply start to open again. Sadly, I think this is going to change the High Street dramatically. There are plenty of empty shops in the Harrogate district and many were struggling before this. I just cannot wrap my head around it. I cannot fathom how Harrogate will look after coronavirus.”

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in North Yorkshire has surpassed 100 for the first time.

So far, three patients with coronavirus have died at the hospital and the number of confirmed cases in North Yorkshire is now at 108.

It comes just over two weeks since Harrogate District Hospital admitted its first COVID-19 patient.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence is in the process of converting the Harrogate Convention Centre into a ‘Nightingale’ hospital to fight the coronavirus crisis.

Across the UK there are 22,141 confirmed coronavirus cases with 1,408 deaths.

Staff from the day surgery unit at Harrogate District Hospital have recorded an emotional video message in response to the clap for carers phenomenon.

In the video, they give a poignant rendition of the song I’ll Stand By You with the following message:

“Harrogate day surgery unit will stand by you. Stay in, stay home, stay safe.”

That message comes after people right across the Harrogate district stepped outside their doors at 8pm on Thursday evening to “clap for our carers.”

A Harrogate woman who has spent the past month trekking in Nepal claims the locals have treated her with disgust since the country went into coronavirus lockdown.

Holly Bellerby and her partner Matthew Helliwell had just finished the 100 mile long Annapurna Circuit when the local government cancelled all climbing permits.

Even though Holly and Matthew haven’t been back to the UK for a year and have no symptoms of coronavirus, they say not wearing masks has proved controversial.

Along with 15 other British nationals, the couple was stuck in the village of Jomsom where restaurant and hotel staff have refused them entry.

“We needed to get a copy of our passport and asked a local internet cafe to help,” Holly told the Stray Ferret.

“They refused to take money from us and handed us the papers by asking us to move back from the property and putting the papers under a rock for us.

 

“At the moment we aren’t too hopeful that there’s going to be a flight arranged for the British nationals. We have heard things about French and German embassies organising something for them.

 

“We actually didn’t have a flight booked home which is a blessing and a curse – it’s almost too risky to book anything or assume the government will organise something for us at the moment.”

Since speaking to the Stray Ferret, Holly has been sent a generic email from the British embassy but it does not guarantee a way out of Nepal.

It says that the embassy is not yet able to “confirm flight availability or cost. If a commercial flight is scheduled at short notice we will need you to be in close proximity.”

Holly Bellerby in Old Bagan, Myanmar.

A local news website in the Himalayas reported today that the “137 foreigners stranded on trekking trails will be rescued in two days” but Holly has not yet been told about any flights.

Even when Holly does get back to the UK, she has no idea what to do about jobs or where to stay.

“My family all still live in Harrogate and after quarantine I will be heading there to stay with my sister. My parents are both high risk so have been advised to stay isolated for three months.

 

“We were planning on moving to London after a few weeks with family up north but now our plans are completely up in the air and we don’t have an endless pit of money.”

Harrogate Borough Council has scrapped all fees at its off-street car parks to help NHS staff and other key workers.

In Harrogate, it will mean that it is now free to park at West Park Long Stay Multi-Storey, Victoria and Jubilee car parks.

But there are over 33 car parks across the Harrogate district which will all be affected by the move.

The council has warned motorists to still follow parking restrictions to ensure they do not create a hazard.

It comes as the Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust scrapped parking fees for its staff.

The government will cover the cost of scrapping parking fees after a petition calling for the move reached over 400,000 signatures.

However, with a surge of volunteers signing up to help at hospitals there were fears that there would not be enough car parking spaces.

This move to scrap off-street parking charges should help relieve some pressure on hospital car parks but government ministers have also called on some private parking firms to follow suit.

North Yorkshire Police has stopped its first few drivers during the coronavirus lockdown at new checkpoints to question their motives.

The checkpoints could appear anywhere at any time to crack down on those flouting the rules in the Harrogate district.

Officers have also been out on foot to disperse groups, to enforce the social distancing measures and to “remind people of the seriousness of the situation.”

Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker said: “As the legislation comes into force, the roadside checks will help us to reinforce the messaging.

“So we ask people not to make non-essential journeys, and to understand the definition of essential. We sincerely hope that we won’t have to resort to enforcement action, but if people do not comply, we will.

 

“We’ll also be out on foot, with a highly visible policing presence, to disperse groups, enforce the social distancing measures and remind people of the seriousness of the situation we are facing.

 

“Please continue to look after each other, try and make the most of this unprecedented opportunity to spend more time with your loved ones, and remember we are here for you if you need us.”

Brief update on the #RoadChecks being carried out in @NYorksPolice area during these unprecedented times. Please help reduce the burden on our amazing @NHSuk #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/ugrk71PQhi

— Sgt Paul Cording BEM (@OscarRomeo1268) March 26, 2020

What are the lockdown rules?

• People can only leave their home to exercise once a day, to commute to work when it is necessary or to shop for food or medicine
• North Yorkshire Police will have the power to fine people between £30 and £1,000 for breaching the rules

All NHS staff working at Harrogate District Hospital will be able to park their cars for free during the coronavirus pandemic.

The government will cover the cost after a petition calling for the move reached over 400,000 signatures.

It also comes after some private firms decided to waive fees for NHS staff, who can pay up to £1,300 a year to park according to the GMB union.

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said: “I will do everything I can to ensure our dedicated staff have whatever they need.

“So we will provide free car parking for our NHS staff who are going above and beyond every day in hospitals across England.”

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust sent out a message to staff before the announcement to say that parking charges would be scrapped.

With a surge of volunteers signing up to help at hospitals, they will be able to use council parking bays for free.

They just need to display evidence of their role in their windscreen to avoid a ticket.

Ministers are also urging all businesses near hospitals to work with their local NHS Trusts to consider allowing NHS staff to use their car parks.

The leader and chief executive of Harrogate Borough Council have issued a public statement on coronavirus for the first time since the pandemic started.

Read their message here in full:

This is probably one of most challenging times either of us have faced in local government and as you can imagine we, as a local authority, are focussed on continuing to deliver the best service we can to residents, businesses and customers who need it the most.

We have undertaken reviews of all our services so that we can support everyone in our community, especially the most vulnerable. We are also working closely with North Yorkshire County Council, and other vital services such as the NHS and volunteer sector, to ensure we provide the best service we can in these unprecedented times.

Understandably a lot of people will have questions and concerns so we’d like to share some of the latest information from Harrogate Borough Council.

Following an announcement by government, around £40million will be made available to support Harrogate district businesses in the coming weeks. This funding will be in the form of business rates relief and government grant and details will be made available on our website in due course.

This message comes just days after the former Director of Communication for the Tory Party accused Cllr Richard Cooper and Andrew Jones MP of a lack of leadership.

Our commercial tenants will be offered three months’ rent free and we’ll be doing all that we can to encourage other landlords in the district to consider what support they can offer their tenants.

We’re also looking at what financial support can be provided to residents who need it the most.

As you may have already noticed, our leisure centres, swimming pools, community centres, Turkish Baths, museums, children’s play areas, etc. are obviously closed until further notice to help prevent the spread of this disease. Please abide by these closures to help prevent the spread of this disease.

Many of our staff who work across these sites have kindly volunteered to support our other services, such as waste collections, during this time and we’d like to thank them publicly for doing so. This reiterates just how dedicated we are to serving the community, just like the many other people are doing across the district.

The leader of Harrogate Borough Council Richard Cooper.

While on the subject of waste and recycling collections. We’re working hard to make sure our waste and recycling collections take place as usual, but disruption is anticipated so please bear with us.

A number of other services we provide will obviously be affected by this pandemic and again will be changing daily. Therefore, I’d encourage any residents to visit: www.harrogate.gov.uk/covid19 for the latest council information and where they can also sign up for our residents’ news.

I’m sure many of you are feel anxious about what is happening and are struggling if you are self-isolating alone. We’d like to ask that everyone looks out for one another and to think about those in your own community who might need help, while following the latest guidance. This might be getting in groceries, collecting medication or delivering a hot meal. Even just a phone call to an elderly neighbour can help wonders.

NYCC are working with community organisations to ensure vulnerable people are looked after and we’re supporting their efforts in doing so. Anyone needing help should contact the county council’s customer service centre on 01609 780780.

The charity Mind also has lots of information, from eating healthy to regular exercise, so please do visit their website if you are feeling anxious.

This is a fast changing environment, something most of us have never experienced before, and the latest advice and guidance is changing frequently. We are therefore following government and NHS advice and suggest residents do as well. This can be found at: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19

North Yorkshire has recorded its biggest daily rise in confirmed coronavirus cases since records began.

The latest data from Public Health England has revealed that there are currently 45 COVID-19 cases.

It is a rise of 15 cases from the day before but that number could be far higher in reality.

At the moment, only patients in hospitals are being tested for coronavirus on a regular basis.

More regular testing could mean that those who have recovered from coronavirus and are now immune will be able to go back to work.

So far, one patient has died with coronavirus at Harrogate District Hospital with 463 deaths nationwide.