Harrogate’s coronavirus infection rate is rising sharply and has equalled record levels – but hospitalisations and deaths remain low.
The borough’s weekly rate per 100,000 people is currently at 534 – higher than any other area in North Yorkshire and equal to its previous record in July.
However, hospitalisations remain much lower than previous waves with 10 covid-positive patients receiving treatment in Harrogate District Hospital as of last Wednesday.
The hospital is also reporting fewer deaths, although there has been a slight increase in recent weeks with the latest death coming on Wednesday last week when the hospital’s toll since the pandemic began reached 188.
Elsewhere in North Yorkshire, Selby has the second highest infection rate at 470, followed by Scarborough at 440, Hambleton at 421, Craven at 373, Ryedale at 327 and Richmondshire at 289.
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The North Yorkshire average is 437 and the average figure for England is 327.
166 infections reported today
A further 166 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district today, according to latest Public Health England figures.
The rise in cases comes as health officials last week announced Ripon racecourse will reopen as a covid vaccination centre.
Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge also have pharmacy-run sites offering booster jabs and vaccines but the full list of sites where the jabs will be delivered in the Harrogate district has yet to be revealed.
The rollout of third doses to around 30 million people across the UK is now underway.
Those eligible for the booster jabs include over-50s, younger adults with health conditions and frontline health and care workers.
Patients will be invited on a priority basis and they have been urged not to contact the NHS, but to wait to hear from the health service.
According to latest NHS figures, a total of 128,131 people in the Harrogate district have now received their first vaccine dose and 120,309 people their second.
Figures for third doses are not yet available.
