More than half of the cumulative total number of coronavirus cases in the Harrogate district have occurred since the beginning of last month.

Analysis of Public Health England data reveals the number of infections in the district has rocketed from 796 at the start of September to 1,720 yesterday.

This means 924 infections have been confirmed in the last seven weeks, compared with just 796 from the start of the pandemic to the beginning of September.

Other North Yorkshire districts, such as Ryedale, Hambleton and Craven, have registered similar sharp increases since the start of the second wave.

In September alone, the number of cases in the Harrogate district increased by 43%. A total of 349 cases were confirmed during the month.

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The growing national rate of new cases has led to the government introducing a new three-tier local lockdown system. North Yorkshire has been placed in the lowest category.

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of public health at North Yorkshire County Council, said yesterday the majority of infections in the county were among “younger, fitter adults”.

He reiterated that the main cause of spread was within households, not in the hospitality sector or schools.

Meanwhile, Dr Sargeant said the authority was monitoring infections in vulnerable groups, particularly those aged over 65.

He said:

Latest seven-day rolling averages show the Harrogate district rate of cases as of October 16 was 161 per 100,000 people.

Selby had the highest rate of the seven North Yorkshire districts at 166, while Richmondshire had the lowest with 91 cases.