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06
Jan 2021
In numbers: rapidly growing covid infection rate in Harrogate district
A total of 973 coronavirus cases were recorded throughout December in the Harrogate district as the country headed for a national lockdown.
The number represents fewer cases than in October and the second lockdown, but the month saw some of the highest daily infections as the new year approached.
The district's spiking numbers were among those contributing to this week's decision to introduce a new national lockdown, announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday evening.
Fewer cases, but higher daily numbers in December
December saw 973 cases in the Harrogate District, fewer than the 1,119 during the November lockdown and 1,353 in October.
But, while there were fewer positive tests, the daily cases hit record highs towards the end of the month.
On December 29, 103 cases were reported - which was an all time high in the district until Monday's figure of 141.
The lowest daily number was 10 new cases on December 10.
While daily cases in the district started out low at the start of December, the numbers began to rise as the month wore on.
Read more:
- Business owners share concerns as new lockdown begins
- Growing concern in Harrogate district over lack of vaccine communication
- Oxford vaccine ‘arriving this week’ – but Harrogate centre closed again today
Case rate increase
The seven-day case rate in the district also steadily increased throughout the month.
The rate was the lowest in North Yorkshire for much of December. However, Harrogate's average rate increased, along with the other six districts, throughout December.
On December 10, the rate hit a low of 79 per 100,000 people. By the end of the month, it was 269.
Meanwhile, nine deaths from patients who tested positive for coronavirus were recorded at Harrogate District Hospital in December.
New variant of coronavirus
Much of the rise in cases in the south of England has been put down to the new variant of coronavirus, which experts say spreads more easily.
At a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, a partnership of emergency agencies, public health bosses said the new variant of coronavirus was almost certainly in the county.
Officials warned that the coronavirus case rates will likely worsen over the next two weeks.
Dr Victoria Turner, a public health consultant at North Yorkshire County Council, said:
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