A further 44 covid cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district today by Public Health England.

It takes the total number of cases since March to 6,760.

The district’s seven-day rate has dropped slightly to 180 people per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 160 while the England rate stands at 256.

Killinghall and Hampsthwaite remains the worst-hit sub-district, with 35 infections in the last seven days.

Read more:

• Covid: South African variant arrives in North Yorkshire
• Harrogate hospital covid patients up to record 64

Meanwhile, Harrogate District Hospital has recorded another death of a patient who tested positive for coronavirus.

The covid death toll at the hospital now stands at 133. NHS England figures show the death was reported yesterday.

Elsewhere, Richard Webb, director of adult care at North Yorkshire County Council, said today case figures in care homes “remain static”. 

Of the 235 care settings in the county, which includes care homes and extra care facilities, 77 have one or more positive covid cases. 

Fifty-six have outbreaks, which is classed as two or more, while 114 staff and residents have covid. 

The number of large outbreaks, defined as 10 or more cases, have decreased from nine to three in the past week.

The number of covid patients at Harrogate District Hospital has increased to a record 64 – bucking the county trend.

Health leaders said today covid patient numbers in North Yorkshire as a whole had declined in the last week.

But the number in Harrogate had increased by 10 from last week’s 54 — which was the previous record high since the start of the pandemic.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, told a press briefing today Harrogate was the only hospital to experience an increase in the last seven days.

She added:

“We are beginning to see a slight drop in the numbers of covid-positive patients in our hospitals.

“But it is worth saying that the number remains significantly higher than the maximum number that we saw in wave one last year.”

A total of 440 patients are currently in North Yorkshire hospitals, which are based in Harrogate, York, Scarborough and South Tees. Fifty of those are in intensive care.

Read more:

• Covid: South African variant arrives in North Yorkshire
• WATCH: Harrogate vaccine team ‘deserve big round of applause’
• Covid: infections fall but hospital admissions hit new high

Last week 504 patients were in hospital with covid.

Ms Bloor added there would not be a rapid reduction in number of admissions to hospital, despite the slight decrease.

She said:

“I don’t think we are going to see a significant and quick drop in the number of admissions. We want to see that consistent, steady decline in numbers.

“Members of the public will help to achieve that by continuing to comply with the guidance.”

David Mattinson, medical registrar on one of Harrogate District Hospital’s covid wards, tweeted last week it had been “exceptionally busy” since Christmas and urged people to stay at home.

The South African variant of coronavirus has been found in North Yorkshire, public health leaders revealed today.

Louise Wallace, director of public health in North Yorkshire, said “a small number” of cases had been identified in the Scarborough area and were linked to international travel.

Ms Wallace added there was “not considered to be any community risk” with the cases.

She told a press briefing of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which co-ordinates the county’s response to the pandemic:

“These cases are not linked to community transmission as is the position in high profile news coverage we will all be aware of nationally.”

She added those affected were isolating and the county council was “not aware” of any cases of the strain in the community in the Harrogate district or other districts in North Yorkshire.

Read more:

• Ripon’s covid vaccine centre opens to the public.
• Pateley Bridge man thanks the team at Harrogate’s new vaccination centre.
• Woman gets first covid vaccine at Ripon racecourse

The South African mutation of coronavirus is feared to be more resistant to vaccinations.

The government ordered surge testing on Monday in eight areas across the country where clusters of the variant were found.

Door-to-door testing was deployed in an effort to test 80,000 people in areas ranging from Bristol to Liverpool.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons yesterday it was “critical” people in those areas stay at home while testing is carried out.

However, North Yorkshire public health bosses said today surge or extra testing in the county would not be necessary at this time.

They added that the county and City of York were “in a strong position” in terms of swab tests that could be deployed at short notice if necessary.

Ms Wallace also told the briefing the seven-day rate across North Yorkshire could “take some time” to come down.

Currently, the rate in the Harrogate district is 181 cases per 100,000 people and the county-wide rate is 164.

Ms Wallace said infections had reduced since the third lockdown began but added:

“It is going to time to get that infection rate to decline. Of course we want it to decline and we do not want it to plateau.

“But it is going to take time and the worst case would be if it started to increase.

“As always, I just really want to urge everyone to continue to play their part to reduce the spread of the virus. It is very slow in terms of the infection rate of coming down and we need to keep making that happen.”

A 73-year-old woman became the first person to be inoculated at Ripon’s new vaccination centre yesterday.

Snow delayed the opening until 1.30pm when a steady stream of people began to arrive.

The first was Maureen Lambden, from Ripon, who described the experience as “fantastic”. She said she was “very, very grateful” to receive the vaccine.

The centre is being staffed by doctors and nurses from local GP surgeries.

Volunteer marshals, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and the racecourse’s own team are also on site helping.

Ripon’s testing centre has the capacity to vaccinate between 500 and 600 people at the racecourse daily.

It is thought the centre will open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but a press briefing today of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, the organisation that represents agencies leading the county’s response to covid, heard opening times will depend on vaccine supply.

Dr Richard Fletcher, from Dr Ingram and Partners in Ripon and clinical director of Ripon and Masham Primary Care Network, said:

“We’re grateful to Ripon racecourse for stepping forward to offer their site for this, as it solves many of the problems presented by other locations.

“It is another significant step in increasing coverage in the region.”

Read more:

• Ripon’s covid vaccine centre opens to the public.
• Pateley Bridge man thanks the team at Harrogate’s new vaccination centre.

Four more people who tested positive for coronavirus have died at Harrogate District Hospital.

NHS England figures published today show three deaths were reported yesterday and another on Sunday.

It takes the covid death toll at the hospital since March to 132.

Meanwhile, a further 24 covid infections have been confirmed in the district today by Public Health England.

Read more:

• Fifteen Harrogate postal workers self-isolating after covid case
• Council warns against driving to Harrogate district beauty spots
• Union’s covid concerns about army recruits returning to Harrogate

The figure takes the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 6,716.

But, the district’s seven-day rate has risen again to 181 people per 100,000.

The North Yorkshire average stands at 164, while the national rate is 258.

A trade union has said it still has concerns about young soldiers from around the country spreading covid when they return to the Army Foundation College in Harrogate.

Unison North Yorkshire last week called for a halt to any new recruits joining the college until covid safety is guaranteed.

Shadow Armed Forces minister Stephen Morgan sought similar assurances after hearing there had been more than 100 infections.

The Ministry of Defence said fewer than 40 of the 2,000 personnel working and training at the college on Penny Pot Lane had tested positive for covid and none required medical treatment.

It added trainee soldiers would remain at the college over half-term.

Read more:

• Fifteen Harrogate postal workers self-isolating after covid case
• Council warns against driving to Harrogate district beauty spots

Union leaders welcomed the MOD’s statement but still have fears about the ongoing impact of the movement of recruits in January.

A spokesperson for Unison North Yorkshire said:

“The MOD has still not provided answers as to why they thought it was appropriate to move hundreds of young recruits to Harrogate from across the country during a lockdown.

“Thankfully the MOD have confirmed that none of the young soldiers are seriously ill with covid, but that is a point that we have never raised.

“We know that young, healthy recruits would not be expected to get ill. We also know that a third of people with covid do not have symptoms.

“Our concern is that our members come into contact with young people from across the country who may have covid, then our members are the ones who take it home to their families and communities.”

Junior soldiers returning to training last month were tested twice with lateral flow tests, which are used to test people who may be asymptomatic.

The MOD said those who tested positive isolated at a purpose built 96-bed accommodation unit for the mandated period of time.

A MOD spokesperson said:

“Fewer than 40 personnel at the Army Foundation College are isolating after testing positive for covid. None of these individuals currently require medical treatment and it is incorrect to suggest we are not coping with the situation.

“The British army takes the health and wellbeing of our personnel very seriously and have been providing lateral flow testing, robust social distancing and hygiene measures in place to protect personnel and prevent further infections.”

It is a simple question: can I drive to beauty spots like Swinsty reservoir in the Harrogate district for exercise? But a clear answer appears elusive.

Harrogate Borough Council’s newsletter last week said:

“Driving to the other side of the district, into the Nidderdale AONB or to either of the national parks is not acceptable.  If you do, you run the risk of a fine.”

Swinsty, Fewston and Lindley Wood reservoirs — popular spots with walkers and dog owners — are all located within Nidderdale AONB and the council’s comments prompted a fierce debate on Twitter.

Some questioned whether legally people could in fact be fined.

Another person tweeted it was ‘bizarre’ that you could join ‘droves of people in Valley Gardens but a quick hop up to deserted Nidderdale is risky and the coppers might fine you’.

But others said there had been a huge increase in local walkers and supported fines.

Today the Stray Ferret attempted to get clarity.

We approached the council, which said it was simply “amplifying North Yorkshire Police’s messaging about what local means”.

Read more:

• Harrogate vaccine team ‘deserve big round of applause’
• Covid care inspires daughter to raise money for hospital

North Yorkshire Police sent us two links when we asked for clarification.

The first was a quote from Superintendent Mike Walker, who leads the force’s response to covid:

“If the officer finds that the individual has travelled multiple miles to exercise and it’s outside of their local area, where there is plenty of provision and open spaces to exercise close to home, the officer has the option to encourage adherence or enforce the regulations dependant on the circumstances.”

There is no further explanation on how far “multiple miles” is. But Superintendent Walker adds that getting “embroiled in detail” can mean we “lose focus of the real reason we are being asked to limit movement”.

The second link referred to a reply by chief inspector Charlotte Bloxham to a resident’s question about what was classed as local travel.

“In relation to travelling for exercise it’s really clear that the message is to stay local in order to do that.

“You can exercise once a day and with one person from another household but the guidance is to stay local to reduce the spread of the virus.

“Local is defined as in your village, your town, your city or locality.

“We are not trying to be the fun police and try spoil people’s activities but it is for a really important reason.”

Some Twitter comments referred to recent guidance on the stay local message from the National Police Chiefs Council, which represents police chiefs.

“UK government guidance strongly requests that people do not leave their local area. However, the covid regulations which officers enforce and which enables them to issue fixed penalty notices for breaches, do not restrict the distance travelled for exercise.”

Government’s coronavirus guidance states:

“Outdoor exercise should be done locally where possible. But you can travel a short distance within your area to do so if necessary.

“For example, to access an open space.”

A further death from a patient who tested positive for covid has been recorded at Harrogate District Hospital.

It takes the total deaths since March to 128. NHS England figures show the death was reported yesterday.

The Harrogate district recorded a further 40 coronavirus cases today, according to Public Health England.

Read more:

• Covid patients at Harrogate hospital hits record high
• Covid care inspires daughter to raise money for hospital

The figure brings the number of cases across the district since the start of the pandemic to 6,692.

Meanwhile, the seven-day covid rate for the district has increased slightly to 177 people per 100,000.

The North Yorkshire average stands at 164, while the national rate is 266.

The Harrogate district has recorded a further 53 coronavirus cases today, according to Public Health England figures.

The total number of cases since the start of the pandemic now stands at 6,611.

Today, the UK recorded 23,275 covid cases.

The seven-day covid rate has fallen again today, it now stands at 172.2 per 100,000.

Read more:

• 15 postal workers self-isolating in Harrogate are self-isolating after a confirmed case of covid. 
• Daughter of ex-covid patient raises money to thank hospital staff.

A further death from a patient who tested positive for covid has been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

The data from NHS England shows the number of covid deaths at the hospital since the pandemic began is now 125. The death was recorded on January 29.

A further 41 cases of coronavirus have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic up to 6,558.

The district’s seven-day covid rate has also fallen to 174 per 100,000 people.

Read more:

• Covid: infections fall but hospital admissions hit new high
• Fifteen Harrogate postal workers self-isolating after covid case

The county-wide rate stands at 170, while the national average is 308.

Meanwhile, a further death from a patient who tested positive for covid has been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

It takes the death toll at the hospital up to 124. The death was recorded on January 28, according to NHS England statistics.