Some schools across North Yorkshire closed today and the hospital in Harrogate has suspended non-urgent operations as the fall out over the coronavirus outbreak continues.

It comes after the first COVID-19 patient at Harrogate District Hospital has died, just a couple of days after the hospital confirmed their first case.

There are currently eight people in North Yorkshire with coronavirus, according to the latest numbers from Public Health England.

Many businesses and schools are trying to limit the spread of the coronavirus by either closing or adapting and The Stray Ferret has a list of everything that happened on Wednesday.

4pm – Tractor Fest cancels over COVID-19 fears

The Tractor Fest due to be held at Newby Hall has decided to cancel over coronavirus fears.

It was expected to bring in more than 12,000 visitors and 1,500 exhibits this year, but organisers have said to expect a bigger event next year.

In light of the latest government advice, we have sadly cancelled this year's show @NewbyHall. We are sorry to disappoint our loyal visitors, exhibitors & traders but sure you understand. We look forward to a bigger & better show in 2021 @HgateAdvertiser @moreRipon@moreHarrogate pic.twitter.com/UVwgCSLp4g

— Tractor Fest (@thetractorfest) March 18, 2020

3.30pm – A full list of coronavirus school closures in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire County Council has released a full list of school closures as headteachers try to protect pupils from coronavirus.

• Outwood Academy Easingwold Open to Y10, 11 & 13 only
• Eskdale School Open to KS4
• Ryedale School Open to Y7 and Y11 only
• Pickering Community Junior Closed
• Lealholm Primary School Closed
• Forest Moor School Closed to 2 x KS3 classes
• Nidderdale High School Closed to Y9/10 and open for Y7 8 11
• Selby PRS Partial Closed
• Tadcaster Grammar School Open for Y7, 11 and 13
• Bentham CP School Closed to nursery children
• Reeth CP School Closed
• Scarborough PRS Closed to Y10
• Harrogate Hookstone Chase Primary School Closed to R, KS1 and EMS provision
• Gunnerside Methodist Primary School Closed
• Norton College Closed to years 8, 9, 10 and 12, and to open only to years 7, 11 and 13
• Skipton St Stephen’s Primary School Closed to Y1/2, Y2/3, Y4/5
• Welburn Hall School Some classes closed due to reduced staffing
• Nidderdale High School Closed to Y9 and open for all other year groups
• Boroughbridge High School Open to Y7, Y10, Y11, Y12, Y13
• Boroughbridge High School Open to Y8, 9, 11, 12, 13 (From March 20)
• Austwick Primary Closed (From March 20)
• Thirsk Secondary School Closed (From March 20)
• Ryedale School Closed (From March 20)

Kids walking to school across Stray.

3pm – Harrogate homeless charity stops accepting most donations

A Harrogate homeless charity has stopped accepting the majority of donations in a bid to protect its vulnerable service users from coronavirus.

The Harrogate Homeless Project will only accept sealed food, sealed toilet roll, cleaning products, hand sanitiser and handwash from today.

A notice on the charity’s site reads: “We are also currently unable to collect any donations and will only be able to accept donations at the door.

“We have an intercom and are happy for you to press the bell and step away if you wish to leave donations from our ‘accepted’ list on our doorstep instead.”

The Harrogate Homeless Project has stopped accepting most donations.

2pm – Harrogate hospital suspends non-urgent operations

Increased demand as a result of coronavirus has forced the hospital in Harrogate to suspend all non-urgent operations.

Harrogate District Hospital said today that the emergency measures were likely to be in place for the next three months at least.

Please see the image for an update on #coronavirus planning and the impact on elective operations. Thank you for your understanding. #WashYourHands #CoronaVirus #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/o4WZqw5hSl

— Harrogate NHS FT (@HarrogateNHSFT) March 18, 2020

Urgent and emergency cases, as well as cancer treatments, will carry on as normal. The hospital will contact everyone affected.

Harrogate District Hospital suspends all non-urgent operations.

1pm – Business as usual at Harrogate council

It’s business as usual at the council in Harrogate despite businesses in the district closing down over coronavirus.

Harrogate Borough Council has told The Stray Ferret that it will not hold any emergency public meetings on COVID-19 but said it is holding daily internal meetings.

The council building on St Luke’s Avenue remains open to the public, as does the customer services desk.

It’s business as usual at Harrogate Borough Council.

12pm – Harrogate hospital places restrictions on visitors

Coronavirus has forced Harrogate District Hospital to restrict the number of visitors and has even limited them to just an hour a day.

Visitors must be immediate family members or carers and must not have symptoms of COVID-19, be over 70-years-old, be vulnerable as a result of their medication or have a chronic illness.

Patients are limited to just one visitor unless they are receiving end-of-life care, the visitor needs to be accompanied or they are a partner and birthing partner accompanying a woman in labour.

All of these measures will be in place for the foreseeable future and the hospital has urged people to consider keeping in touch in other ways.

The NHS 111 pods outside Harrogate Hospital.

11am – Enjoy the outdoors as National Trust opens for free

People are being invited to get some fresh air and explore National Trust sites as they open up to the public for free.

The National Trust will be closing its houses, cafes, and shops this week but the gardens and park will remain open.

A spokesperson said that the move was to help “the nation use open spaces to relax and refresh, while following the government’s social distancing guidance.”

National Trusts sites are opening for free.

10am – McDonald’s closes restaurants, takeaways only

McDonald’s is the latest company to close down all of its restaurants to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The international chain has restaurants in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough, which have all changed to delivery and drive-thru only.

A spokesperson for McDonald’s said they would continue to remain open for takeaways “for as long as it is safe to do so.”

A few people are still picking up food in the Harrogate McDonald’s.

All of McDonald’s seating areas are now closed.

9am – Conservative spring forum in Harrogate cancelled

The Conservative Party has decided to cancel the spring forum over coronavirus, which was due to be held at the Harrogate Convention Centre in early April.

Anyone who has paid a registration fee can apply for a refund by clicking or tapping here for more information.

The party apologised for any inconvenience caused but said the health and safety of delegates was its main concern.

Harrogate Convention Centre’s was set to host the Conservative Party Spring Forum in early April.

A chef in Harrogate is trying to help people cook up fresh meals with whatever food they have left in their kitchens as supermarkets are raided by panic buyers.

Darren Gladman made his name as the head chef at Rudding Park and has since been forced to retire with illness but is now using his expertise to get people cooking free of any charge.

Many supermarkets in the Harrogate district no longer have basic food like potatoes, pasta, and rice but Darren thinks there’s plenty you can still do.

Got a full grocery cupboard but not sure what to cook?

He told The Stray Ferret:

“I am in self-isolation because I have underlying health problems but I still want to help people, it’s nice to see the community pulling together and I want to do my bit.

“The first things to go are always the easiest things to cook but when people are just eating pasta and ready-made sauce they are not getting a decent meal.”

Darren has been inundated with requests but The Stray Ferret thought we’d test him out and asked him what he would do with an aubergine, coconut milk, and some eggs.

Without missing a beat he suggested roasting the aubergine, cooking up a spiced coconut sauce and egg fritters for a quick and fresh Thai-inspired meal.

Anyone scratching their heads over what to cook can get in touch with Darren on The Square Bar and Restaurant Facebook page.

Images taken of Harrogate at around 7.30pm:

Many restaurants within the Harrogate district remained opened today but it was very much a situation of business as ‘unusual’.   

The Tannin Level, which is in its 35th year of operating in the centre of Harrogate said that many people are ‘just assuming closure, which is not the case.’ 

 The owner, John Roberts, told the Stray Ferret he thought the government had let them down: 

‘We are stuck between a rock and a hard place, the government are telling people not to come but we aren’t being told to close so we are trying to stay open. The hospitality industry have been hung out to dry” 

Mama Doreen’s emporium, a popular tea room in the centre of Harrogate told the Stray Ferret that they were ‘not giving up.’  

Jessica Wyatt who started the independent tea room in 2009 has closed the eating area but is now offering a delivery service and takeaways.  

“If customers can’t come to us we will go to them. With 800 people booked in for mothers day we do not feel it would be a safe environment for anyone, so we have decided to close our tearooms and deliver afternoon tea to peoples doors.’ 

‘We had a busy weekend, I think people knew it may be the last time they would be able to eat out for a while, but since Sunday sales have been down by 30 percent. I hope that our new takeaway menu offers our customers an alternative and will hopefully bring a little joy through these difficult times by being able to have cake and afternoon tea delivered to your door.” 

Mama Doreen’s Emporium delivery message

Some Cafes staying open  have tried to make allowances for “social distancing”.  

Bowe and Co, a family run café in Boroughbridge reduced covers from a capacity of 30 to 15, now only offering tables of two. The owner of the small café, Adrian Domenico said 

“We are doing what we can to stay open but whether we will have a viable business by the end of the week or the end of tomorrow is unknown. We have just paid off our final business loan yesterday, but it looks like we may have to plunge into debt again.” 

With a huge degree uncertainty and potential job cuts and closures many restaurants are looking for alternative ways of making money and whilst many are ensuring social distancing. Al Bivio, an Italian restaurant on Hornbeam Park, told the Stray Ferret that “social distancing is not an issue when people aren’t coming through the door.”.

 Sandra Doherty, CEO of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said:  

“We’re doing all we can to support businesses by spreading the word about what they’re offering in these difficult times. 

“Many cafes and food shops are now offering deliveries to customers, including drop-offs without contact for people who are isolating. This is a fantastic way that local people can both support our valuable businesses and get good quality food delivered directly to the door. 

“Our priority now is to ensure a clear message goes out that the Harrogate district is still open for business, even if it’s in a slightly different way from the usual” 

The West Park Hotel, Harrogate

Provenance inns, which owns the West Park Hotel and have 7 gastro pubs and boutique hotels across North Yorkshire, remained open for now but has seen most rooms cancelled:  

A spokesperson from the company has said 

 “The safety of our guests and staff is paramount, we are disinfecting all hard surfaces, door handles and chairs after each use as well as making sure we have a minimum of 2 metres between each table. We were fully booked for Mothers day but unfortunately have seen 30 percent cancellations since last nights government announcement, as well as most of our accommodation being cancelled or postponed”.  

Bettys has closed all six of its cafes and its cookery school in an effort to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Staff put up a notice on the door of the Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms in Harrogate detailing the decision based on government advice.

The Bettys shops will remain open as usual, as will the mail order service for collection or home delivery.

Bettys staff have put this notice on the door.

A spokesperson for the tea rooms said today: “Although we’re sad to close our cafés, it is absolutely the right thing to do at this time.

“In the coming days and weeks, we may have to take further steps to do our bit to get everyone through this strange and difficult time.

“Bettys has been around for 100 years, and once this passes we’ll still be here; kettle on, cakes freshly baked, with a smile for all who visit us.”

The government asked the public to avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and social venues yesterday to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Larger hotels and restaurant owners in Harrogate reacted by calling on the government to provide them with financial support.

Students from Harrogate are scrambling to get back home from Spain as coronavirus forces the country into lockdown.

Bethany Sadler from Harrogate had been studying at the University of Granada as part of her year abroad with the University of Birmingham.

The 21-year-old, who studies English and Drama, told The Stray Ferret that the situation in Spain has been “spiralling out of control.”

She said: “The scariest part was how quickly everything changed. We were only placed on lockdown over the weekend.

“We were told on Friday that the university was going to stay open but now we aren’t even allowed outside.

“The police will approach you if you venture outside to ask you what you are doing.”

COVID-19 has hit Spain hard with 9,428 confirmed cases and 335 deaths.

Bethany said she was extremely anxious that she would not be able to book a flight home but landed safely today.

She said that many of her friends had been spending up to £1,000 by booking flights and taxis to make it back to the UK.

It comes as seven people have tested positive for coronavirus in North Yorkshire with one patient being cared for at Harrogate District Hospital.

The NHS is asking people to stay at home for seven days if they have a high temperature or a new, continuous cough.

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