Harrogate district covid rate falling rapidly

The Harrogate district reported another 119 cases of covid today, as the seven-day rate continues to fall.

The rate has dropped to 573 per 100,000 people — well below the 740 mark it achieved on October 16.

Ryedale and Craven both now have higher rates in North Yorkshire.

The county average is 543 and the England rate stands at 479.

No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to latest NHS England figures.

The hospital was treating 19 covid patients as of Monday.

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Meanwhile, 12 to 15-year-olds can now book their covid vaccine appointments on the NHS website.

The large vaccination site at Askham Bar on the outskirts of York and the Homecare Pharmacy site in Knaresborough are among the venues offering vaccine appointments.

Elland Road stadium in Leeds is also available to book.

Knaresborough vaccine centre welcomes first 12 to 15-year-olds

Knaresborough’s vaccination site today welcomed the first 12 to 15 year olds through its doors amid concern about high coronavirus cases in the Harrogate district.

The government initially said that all children in that age group would be offered jabs on school premises by half-term.

However, the roll-out in schools locally has been delayed due to staffing issues at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.

So the NHS has asked Homecare Pharmacy Services, which recently moved to the Chain Lane Community Hub in Knaresborough, to help out with the roll-out.

William Kean, 12, from Harrogate, was among the first of his cohort to get vaccinated today. He told the Stray Ferret:

“I was a little bit nervous but it was fine, it didn’t hurt very much. I thought it was going to be worse. Hopefully it means I don’t miss as much school now.”

The Homecare team at the launch of the new clinic today.

Local public health officials have linked the high rate of infection in the Harrogate district to children returning to school in September.

The director of public health for North Yorkshire, Louise Wallace, revealed last week that she had urged schools to bring back face masks and reduce after-school activities as a result.

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Jason Baskind, managing director of Homecare Pharmacy Services, told the Stray Ferret:

“Obviously the school teams have been struggling to get the children all done. The initial offer has got to be through schools.

“But the NHS has asked us and other vaccination centres to put on these clinics for children because it’s half-term and because of the situation in Harrogate.”

Sue Vasey, interim director at the Chain Lane Community Hub, added:

“It was really important for us to be able to offer this facility for such an important programme, particularly now when infection levels are so high in our area.

“We are always in need of volunteers but it’s a great atmosphere and a really good team. Everyone has really pulled together to make this work.”

Harrogate district covid rate continues to decline

A further 127 coronavirus cases have been reported in the Harrogate district today, amid signs the infection rate may have peaked.

The district’s seven-day rate remains at 667 cases per 100,000, which remains the highest in the county but is below the 739 of a week ago.

The district with the second highest rate in North Yorkshire is Ryedale, at 607.

The North Yorkshire average is 535 and the England rate stands at 482.

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This week, schools in the district were encouraged to reintroduce face masks and postpone some activities after the district’s sharp rise in covid cases was linked to young people.

Another 150 covid cases in Harrogate district as rate reaches 734

A further 150 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the Harrogate district in the last 24 hours, according to the latest Public Health England figures.

It brings Harrogate’s total number of cases to 19,271 since the start of the pandemic. The district has a seven-day infection rate of 734 per 100,000 people.

The rate in the Harrogate district is the highest in Yorkshire and the eleventh highest in England.

Public health officials said today school pupils were driving the rapid increase in infections in the Harrogate district.

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Headteachers have been urged to bring back face masks and postpone after-school activities.

Despite the rise in infections, deaths and hospitalisations remain lower than previous waves with 15 covid-positive patients at Harrogate District Hospital on Monday.

According to the latest NHS data, the hospital in Harrogate has not reported any new coronavirus deaths today.

Harrogate district schools urged to bring back face masks

Schools in the Harrogate district are being encouraged to reintroduce face masks and postpone some activities after the district’s sharp rise in covid cases was linked to young people.

The district has the 11th highest infection rate in England, with cases rising most sharply among five to 19-year-olds.

Public health officials called an urgent press briefing today and revealed every headteacher in Harrogate had been contacted with the offer of extra support and advice.

Amanda Newbold, assistant director of education and skills at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“We are working to minimise the disruption to education by recommending that face coverings are worn in certain settings and on school transport.

“We have asked schools to consider the risk of mixing and for some out of school activities to be postponed until case rates are reduced.

“We would also ask that everybody at schools continue to conduct twice-weekly lateral flow testing and report their results.”

Attendance levels down

Neil Renton, headteacher at Harrogate Grammar School, also said extra measures including no mixing of students at break times and moving parents evening online had been introduced.

Neil Renton, Headteacher at Harrogate Grammar School.

Neil Renton

He said of the school’s 2,100 students, attendance levels had fallen from 96% to 92% largely due to covid. Mr Renton said:

“Young people have been really pleased to be back at school – it has been very positive.

“However, we are seeing more cases at this point than we saw last year.

“Cases are higher, but the distribution to learning I would argue is lower because of the different rules about isolation.

“We have some staff who have been absent due to Covid, but not at a level to significantly disrupt provision.”

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At the start of term, all schools were advised by the government that face coverings were no longer routinely needed for staff or pupils, although they were still recommended in crowded spaces such as on school buses.

But the Department for Education also said schools could temporarily reintroduce bubble groups and face masks in communal spaces in areas with higher Covid rates.

45 district schools have covid

The Harrogate district’s weekly infection rate has been rising steadily since mid-September and currently stands at a record level of 733 cases per 100,000 people.

A total of 45 schools, colleges and early years settings in the district are currently dealing with at least one confirmed covid case.

Despite the rise in infections, deaths and hospitalisations remain lower than previous waves with 15 covid-positive patients at Harrogate District Hospital on Monday.

It was also announced at today’s briefing that the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate will reopen as a vaccination centre later this year to support the booster programme.

Louise Wallace, director of public health for North Yorkshire, has urged people to take up vaccines which are now available for 12 to 15-year-olds, as she also said everyone had a part to play in reducing the high infection rate.

She said: “The rate in Harrogate is higher than any of us would like it to be. No one at any age wants to catch covid so I want to reiterate some key messages.

“Washing your hands will not only help to protect you from covid, but also from other unpleasant things you do not want to catch this winter.

“Letting fresh air in is also hugely beneficial.

“The other big thing we can all do that makes a difference is to pop on a face covering. This is particularly important in enclosed and busy indoor areas, and on all forms of public transport.

“If you have symptoms, please isolate and book a test. It is still really important.

“And please come forward and get a vaccination. It is the best form of defence.”

Great Yorkshire Showground vaccine centre to reopen

A vaccination centre will reopen at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate amid surging covid cases driven by the transmission of the virus in schools.

An urgent press conference called today to address the Harrogate district’s high infection rate heard the Yorkshire Event Centre will be used to administer jabs again.

Currently there is no specific date for the return of the showground vaccine centre, which was last used in June. However, the meeting heard it will coincide with the “peak of the booster programme”.

Today’s meeting was convened hastily in response to the district’s seven-day coronavirus rate reaching 733 cases per 100,000 people.

It is the highest in Yorkshire and one of the highest in England.

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Rachael Durrett, head of communication and engagement at North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group said during the meeting:

“In response the Yorkshire Event Centre site will be stood up later in the year to cover the peak of the booster programme.

“There are also pharmacy sites that service the Harrogate area, including at Knaresborough. We will share a full list of pharmacy sites.”

‘Vaccine centre will not clash with events’

A spokesperson for the Great Yorkshire Showground said the vaccine centre will not clash with any of its existing events.

The vaccine centre will open in Hall 2 straight after the Christmas fair, which runs from December 2 to 5.

Another covid death as case rates climb in Harrogate district

Harrogate District Hospital has recorded another coronavirus death as case rates in the district continue to climb to new highs.

The patient died on Tuesday last week but the hospital reported the death today. It takes the hospital’s covid-related death total to 192.

As of last Thursday, the hospital was treating 14 covid patients – well below last winter’s peak of 67.

Public Health England said today another 147 people have tested positive for the virus in the Harrogate district.

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Case rates in the Harrogate district are so high that North Yorkshire County Council has called an urgent meeting to discuss them tomorrow.

The district’s seven-day rate is now 733 per 100,000 population, which is far higher than the current England average of 448.

North Yorkshire County Council will host the virtual meeting tomorrow from 10.30am until 11am, when health officials will brief the media on the situation.

Urgent meeting to tackle Harrogate district’s soaring covid rate

Public health officials are to hold an urgent press conference tomorrow to discuss soaring coronavirus rates in the Harrogate district.

The district’s seven-day rate is currently 723 per 100,000 population, which is far higher than the current England average of 436.

North Yorkshire County Council will host the virtual meeting tomorrow from 10.30am until 11am, when health officials will brief the media on the situation.

Richard Webb, the corporate director for health and adult services at the council, has urged people in the Harrogate district to think about hygiene. He said:

“Harrogate currently has amongst the highest levels of coronavirus in England. Please keep safe.

“And yes, wash your hands. Wear your face mask to protect others. Think about space and ventilation.”

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Covid case rates in the Harrogate district have been rising since mid September, when the rate was 372.

However, although the number of cases has risen sharply the number of coronavirus patients at Harrogate District Hospital has not risen in the same manner.

As of last Thursday, the hospital was treating 14 covid patients – well below last winter’s peak of 67.

No further details of tomorrow’s meeting have been made available.

Harrogate district covid rate soars above 700

The Harrogate district’s seven-day covid rate of infection has risen above 700 per 100,000 for the first time.

Public Health England recorded another 174 cases today, which elevated the rate from 682 yesterday to 723 today.

The North Yorkshire rate is 528 and the England rate is 436.

Harrogate west and Pannal Ash is the current covid hotspot, with 97 infections in the last seven days.

Dishforth, Baldersby and Markington have recorded the fewest cases, with just 25.

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127 more positive covid cases in Harrogate district

The Harrogate district has reported a further 127 cases today, Public Health England has confirmed.

Thursday saw a record high since the start of the pandemic when 202 cases were reported.

The district’s seven-day covid rate currently stands at 682 per 100,000.

The North Yorkshire average is 509 and the England rate stands at 408.

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No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to latest NHS England figures.

Harrogate District Hospital is currently treating 18 covid patients — the most since March this year when the hospital was recovering from its busiest coronavirus period