Harrogate hospital staff on the frontline in the fight against coronavirus urgently need hand cream.

The Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity has today asked local businesses to donate as much as possible.

It comes as hospital staff, who normally wash their hands very frequently, need to wash them four times more than usual.

Anyone who can help should send an email to the charity by clicking or tapping here.

So far, the charity has been pleased with their call for donations.

***CALLING FOR HAND CREAM***

We have a need for donations of hand cream for our @HarrogateNHSFT colleagues!
Can you help or do you know anyone that can help? If so please email hdft.hhcc@nhs.net

@StrayFM @HgateAdvertiser @LushLtd @BootsUK @TheBodyShopUK @MoltonBrownUK pic.twitter.com/hN9ocQhD5J

— Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity (HHCC) 🧡 (@harrogatehcc) March 25, 2020

Georgia Hudson, the community and events fundraiser, told the Stray Ferret: “We have had a really good response, it’s been really positive.

“We need quite a lot. We have over 1,500 staff in the hospitals and 4,500 staff who are working in the communities.”

There are currently 30 confirmed coronavirus cases in North Yorkshire with one death at Harrogate District Hospital.

A young Harrogate farming family with underlying health conditions has urged walkers to stay off their land during the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the lockdown, which was imposed on Monday, the farm in Haverah Park has seen an increase in people passing through.

Francesca Ryder, who farms sheep and suckler cattle with her husband Josh, are both in the high-risk category for COVID-19.

She fears that people will bring the virus to her home by touching gates, walls and other surfaces on their way through.

“People are treating it like it’s a bank holiday, not a health crisis.”

Francesca told the Stray Ferret: “When we politely ask people to avoid this footpath until the pandemic is over we often get abuse in return.

“We only want to protect our health, People don’t realise that their choice to walk here could kill us.

She fears for her family.

“A lot of people saying they’ll come through just to prove their rights. We know that legally we can’t obstruct the footpath.

“We’ve tried to get a temporary closure from the councils but they are so busy with the pandemic they haven’t given us a straight answer yet.

“We feel that it’s very important to protect ourselves and other farming families – there are five others on this footpath with equally vulnerable family members.”

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 soon have the power to fine people between £30 and £1,000 for breaching the rules

So far, there are 30 confirmed coronavirus cases in North Yorkshire with one death at Harrogate District Hospital.

Businesses in the Harrogate district will get a share of a new £40 million support package to help them stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.

Any business eligible for small business rate relief or rural relief will get a £10,000 grant while hospitality and leisure businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000 will get a £25,000 grant.

Those hospitality and leisure businesses, regardless of rateable value, will not need to pay any business rates during the 2020/2021 financial year.

It comes as Harrogate Borough Council announces that its commercial tenants will be able to get three months rent free.

Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said: “We know businesses are struggling.

“Our business rates team are geared up to process tens of millions of pounds of government cash to support local businesses.

“As soon as it hits our bank account we will be getting it into the bank accounts of local businesses.

“We have also been lobbying government on behalf of freelancers and the self-employed who make up a significant part of our local workforce. We are expecting announcements on this over the coming days.

“But we want to go further. So we will be offering nearly all our commercial tenants three months’ rent-free.

“This includes some shops on our high streets, Harrogate Theatre and other offices and business premises around the district.”

More information on these initiatives will be available on the Harrogate Borough Council website.

Police have warned motorists that they are cracking down on those who are driving at “highly-excessive speeds” on the near-empty Harrogate district roads.

During the coronavirus pandemic, North Yorkshire Police has seen more people risk their lives by using their phones while driving or by speeding on key routes.

Officers believe that less traffic on the road is encouraging some drivers and motorcyclists to flout the law and drive unsafely.

They are urging motorists not to tie up valuable police or NHS resources by committing “dangerous but preventable” offences.

Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker said: “These actions can have fatal consequences which tie up emergency service and medical resources at a time when they are needed most.

“We have a duty to uphold the law and keep our roads safe for everyone, regardless of the wider situation nationally. And we continue to uphold that duty of care to prevent casualties or fatalities.”

“Let me be very clear – motorcyclists and drivers should be staying at home unless their journey falls into one of the essential criteria outlined by the government.”

People in the Harrogate district are adjusting to life on the coronavirus lockdown but many still have questions about how it will work.

Last night, prime minister Boris Johnson said that people will only be permitted to go outside to shop for food or medicine, to exercise once a day and to travel to and from essential work.

North Yorkshire Police will, from Thursday, be able to disperse gatherings and fine people caught flouting the rules between £30 and £1,000.

There is still some confusion about the rules with the police looking to “obtain the details of the new legislation.”

We put up a post on social media post last night asking people how they felt about the new lockdown rules and here is what they said:

Richard Corfield: “It’s a shame this has been needed, as sensible behaviour could have allowed us to leave it advisory. But then we saw the stockpiling for no need and we’ve seen the massive groups out and about. The advice on pubs was a bit woolly and the advice on going to the country “all the parks are free!” was maybe wrong.”

Helen Bainbridge: “It is definitely necessary. We were busier than ever yesterday. I work in a bank and it was madness.”

Ann Speed: “Sad but necessary. Maybe if people had listened and acted responsibly earlier it would have slowed it down. We have pretty much been self isolating for two weeks now. Only going out for food or a drive for a bit of different scenery”

Rachel Demain said: “Been out of for my first walk of the new rules. It was nice to get out and will make the world of difference to my Mental Health that will give me the resources to cope. I am definitely not going to push my luck with my health or incurring a fine.”

Michelle Recchia: “The problem is the word necessary. If he had said only key workers are classed as necessary. That would have made it clear. We all now know who fall into this category. For me necessary is if the only way you can make a living as you cannot work at home and you can still maintain the 2m guidance ect. For many self employed particularly in the construction industry could still work for now.”

So far there are 24 confirmed coronavirus cases in North Yorkshire with one death at Harrogate District Hospital.

Harrogate District Hospital has been overwhelmed by the rapid response to its call for volunteers to help during the coronavirus pandemic.

On Saturday, the trust that runs the hospital said it urgently needed volunteers after some of its staff had been forced to stand down from their roles.

The volunteers will largely be assisting in administrative and manual handling roles but it’s unclear how long they will be needed for.

Today a spokesperson for the hospital thanked people for sharing their original appeal.

“An overwhelming response. Thank you, Harrogate. We have what we think we need currently so no need to share further. Again, thank you.”

Policing leaders in the Harrogate district have said they are impatiently waiting for powers that would enable them to crack down on those flouting the coronavirus lockdown.

Those powers are expected to come into force by this Thursday and would mean that people could be fined between £30 and £1,000 for ignoring the rules.

As of last night, people will only be permitted to go outside to shop for food or medicine, to exercise once a day and to travel to and from essential work.

In a public accountability meeting livestreamed on YouTube today, the Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker said the situation is serious but “people still aren’t getting the message.”

Police in the Harrogate district have insisted that they will enforce the coronavirus lockdown with fines up to £1,000 if people are caught flouting the restrictions from Thursday.

As of last night, people will only be permitted to go outside to shop for food or medicine, to exercise once a day and to travel to and from essential work.

Prime minister Boris Johnson also said that the police will be able to fine people between £30 and £1,000 and disperse any gatherings of more than two people – excluding those from the same household.

There is still some confusion about when and how the police will be able to enforce the rules. North Yorkshire Police said today that it was working to “obtain the details of the new legislation as it becomes available.”

Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker is leading North Yorkshire Police’s response to the outbreak.

“The new and significant restrictions announced by the Prime Minister on Monday evening spell out very clearly what each and every one of us must do to save lives. The message is clear and the warning stark. Stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.

“These are the lives of the people we know and love. Our partners, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, grandparents. You may never be in such a position again where your simple actions will lead directly to saving lives.

“Alongside the new restrictions, the Government announced new powers to enforce them. I know the vast majority of people will follow the restrictions without question, as they have done so already and we will work with local communities to help reinforce the message should it be necessary.

“We sincerely hope that we will not have to resort to enforcement measures, but if we have to, we will. In the meantime, we are working with national police colleagues and the Government to obtain the details of the new legislation as it becomes available.

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

The Police Chief Constable, Police and Crime Commissioner, and the Chief Fire Officer also released a joint statement on new measures to stop the spread of coronavirus today.

“It is our job to keep North Yorkshire safe and we can only do that if you follow the instruction to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.

“We know the vast majority of you have already been taking action to stop the spread of Coronavirus, and we thank you for those efforts. But some have not – and the crowds we saw in some parts of North Yorkshire this weekend illustrated that all too clearly.

“Now there is no ambiguity, there can be no question – if you do not need to be outside for an essential reason, to buy food or medicine or to exercise once a day, you must stay at home.

“Anyone who thinks this does not apply to them is putting lives at risk. North Yorkshire Police will use all powers we have to stop that, to keep us all safe and to ultimately save lives.

“Our emergency services will be here to protect you throughout this national emergency. We know these are unsettling times. They are unprecedented times. But across North Yorkshire we stand together, and together we’ll get through it.”

At 1.30pm today, the police will hold a “public accountability meeting” live on YouTube to focus on the county’s reaction to the coronavirus pandemic.

Harrogate’s Mayor has urged people to stop ignoring government advice on social distancing after his wife was diagnosed with coronavirus.

Councillor Stuart Martin has spent the last couple of weeks in self-isolation with his wife April after she fell ill on Monday last week.

At first, she developed a cough and then a high temperature before she started having breathing problems.

The couple called NHS 111 and was told that April more than likely had coronavirus and that they should both self-isolate.

“I just want to get the message out there that people should listen to the government advice. What I am seeing and hearing is that people are still going out and they are not following the social distancing rules.

“This is frustrating to watch. I can understand young people thinking they’re invincible but it is the elderly relatives they are putting at risk.

“Thankfully April has no underlying health conditions and no longer has the high temperature or breathing problems but she’s still coughing and she’s in bed most of the time.

“I cooked her some lunch today but she hasn’t got the appetite for it, I have seen mice eat more food,” he told the Stray Ferret.

Councillor Stuart Martin said he’s had some mild symptoms since and that his wife April has not had a test at the hospital because they were told to stay at home.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in North Yorkshire has risen to 20, according to Public Health England.

One elderly patient with COVID-19 and underlying health conditions has died at Harrogate District Hospital.

Across the UK there are 5,683 confirmed cases of the virus with 281 deaths and 135 recoveries.

Organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show have taken the “sad but sensible” decision to cancel this year’s show.

The event draws in big crowds every year, with over 135,000 attending in 2019, and was due to be held from July 14 to July 16.

The organisers hope to bring the show back in 2021 bigger and better than before.

Nigel Pulling, the CEO of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, said today that he feels the show could not safely go-ahead.

In a statement he said:

“Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, we have taken the sad but sensible decision to cancel the Great Yorkshire Show this year.

As this national crisis escalates day by day, we feel we cannot safely run the Show in 2020. We are extremely sorry to have to announce this news and appreciate that this will disappoint everyone who loves the Show as much as we do.

We will continue to passionately support our farmers in whatever way we can, as they work hard producing our food.

We would like to thank everyone for supporting the Great Yorkshire Show and our goal is to return bigger and better next year.

We hope you and your families stay safe and well through these difficult times.”