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19
Nov 2020
Harrogate district covid rate falls below England average
The Harrogate district’s seven-day covid rate has fallen below the national average for the first time since October.
The weekly average for the district now stands at 245 infections per 100,000 people, compared with 263 for England.
The rate has fallen from a record high of 307 last week, which was the second highest rate in North Yorkshire.
It's the first time the rate has been below the national average since October 25.
But Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of public health at North Yorkshire County Council, warned that some figures could have been affected by recent changes in how cases are recorded.
Public Health England now reports cases based on where the test was carried out, instead of where a person is registered with the NHS.
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The change has seen Harrogate’s total cases drop by 201.
It comes as a further 59 positive tests were confirmed in the district in the last 24 hours, according to Public Health England.
The number takes the total amount of cases since the start of the pandemic to 3,313.
Meanwhile, Dr Sargeant told a North Yorkshire Outbreak Management Advisory Board meeting today the lowest level of restrictions could be “somewhat stronger” after lockdown.
The country is set to exit the second shutdown on December 2, but ministers have yet to decide what the tier system will look like in two weeks time.
Dr Sargeant said previously that the first tier, which North Yorkshire was under before lockdown, “did not work” and “had no teeth”.
He added that officials at the council expected an announcement on the new restrictions at the end of next week.
Simon Weaver tests positive
Elsewhere, Simon Weaver, Harrogate Town manager, is expected to miss his team's trip to Leyton Orient this weekend after testing positive for coronavirus.
He tested positive earlier this week after going into precautionary self-isolation before the Crawley Town game on November 14.
Paul Thirwell, assistant manager, will take charge this weekend while Weaver continues to isolate.
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