Subscribe to trusted local news

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.

Already a subscriber? Log in here.

Mar 2020

Last Updated: 16/03/2020

First coronavirus case confirmed in Harrogate

by Tamsin O'Brien

| 15 Mar, 2020

Harrogate District Hospital says the patient is being very safely cared for by a highly skilled team and all of the appropriate protection measures are in place

Harrogate District Hospital confirmed yesterday afternoon that it had its first coronavirus patient.

Robert Harrison, Chief Operating Officer at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:Robert Harrison, Chief Operating Officer at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We can confirm that we are currently caring for a patient who has tested positive for the COVID-19 infection. They are being very safely cared for by our highly skilled team at Harrogate District Hospital and all of the appropriate protection measures are in place.

“As always, our prime concern is to respect patient confidentiality at all times and we would ask the media to do the same.

“Services continue to run as usual across the hospital.”

Yesterday the total number of confirmed cases in the UK has reached 1,372 cases with 35 deaths.

On Thursday the Government moved from the "containment" phase to the "delay" phase and Public Health England will no longer be publishing regional numbers for people testing positive to the virus. It's thought the government may announce a ban on mass gatherings in the coming days.

For the latest advice from Harrogate District Hospital on COVID-19 click here