The rate at which coronavirus is spreading in the Harrogate district has increased for the first time in more than a month.

The R number rose from 0.4 to 0.5 over the weekend after falling consistently since early November.

It means every 10 people infected pass on covid to five others, which means the virus is still diminishing in the district but at a slower rate.

The government is due to review tier levels on Wednesday, with any changes taking effect on Saturday.

It seems likely that North Yorkshire will remain in tier two.

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The seven-day average rate of infection for the county is 96 per 100,000 people, compared with an England average of 181.

The figure for the Harrogate district is 78, having peaked at over 300 early last month.

Starbeck has taken over as the district’s covid hotspot, with 21 infections in the lasts even days.

Knaresborough central is next highest with 14, followed by Knaresborough north with 13.

A further 23 people have received positive tests for covid-19 in the Harrogate district in the last 24 hours.

The figures released by Public Health England today reveal that a total of 3,805 people in the district have been diagnosed with the virus since the pandemic began.

Meanwhile, today’s figures also show that a further 1,307 people across Yorkshire and the Humber have tested positive. The total number of positive cases in the region since the outbreak started now stands at 226,546.

Across North Yorkshire, 646 new cases have been confirmed in the last seven days, of which 153 were in the Harrogate district.

The seven-day average case rate for the Harrogate district up to December 6 remains at 95 per 100,000 people. It had peaked at more than 300 in early November.

The rate for North Yorkshire as a whole is slightly higher, at 104.5.

As the vaccine roll-out begins, an announcement is expected next week about where in North Yorkshire it will be delivered. Up to now, vaccinations have only been carried out at central points, with the closes to Harrogate being Leeds.

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A further 21 coronavirus cases were confirmed in the Harrogate District in the last 24 hours, according to Public Health England figures.

It takes the total amount of cases since the start of the pandemic up to 3,782.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day average, which is the rate up to December 6, increased to 95 per 100,000 people.

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The county-wide rate stands at 104, below the national average of 154.

It comes as seven sites across North Yorkshire are set to offer the coronavirus vaccine next week.

North Yorkshire CCG, which buys medical services for the county, will provide further details when they are finalised.

More than 1,100 coronavirus cases were recorded in the Harrogate district during the second lockdown.

However, the number decreased dramatically during the second half of lockdown, as recently published Public Health England figures highlight.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a second national lockdown from November 5 until December 2 to stem a rise in coronavirus cases.

A total of 1,119 cases were confirmed in the district.

The figure represents a decrease on October’s number, when 1,353 were reported.

The daily coronavirus case increases throughout the second lockdown. Data: Public Health England. Graph: The Stray Ferret.

Daily cases peaked at 95 on November 9 in the district, before dropping to a low of 11 on November 21.

The seven-day average throughout the period also gradually decreased.

The rate hit a record high of 303 per 100,000 people on November 8, before dropping to 90 by the end of the restrictions.

Meanwhile, a total of 12 patients who tested positive for coronavirus died at Harrogate District Hospital during the period, according to NHS England figures.

“Relatively stable” figures

Since the end of the second lockdown, North Yorkshire has been placed in tier two of local restrictions.

The system is expected to be reviewed next week, although local public health bosses have cautioned against any of hope of a downgrade.

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Harrogate district’s daily cases have been low recently, with a further 20 cases confirmed today. It takes the total number since the start of the pandemic to 3,761.

Meanwhile, the latest seven-day average, which is for the week to December 5, stands at 93 per 100,000 people.

This morning Richard Webb, director of adult care at North Yorkshire County Council, told a media briefing of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which represents key groups in the fight against covid, that case figures were “relatively stable”.

But he said they were still higher than he would like and the county needed to continue to get them down.

North Yorkshire’s leading public health experts have cautioned against hopes the county could be downgraded to tier one before Christmas.

The government is due to review the tier system next week.

North Yorkshire, which is in tier two, has a seven-day average infection rate of 103 people per 100,000. This is considerably below the England average of 151.

The Harrogate district’s average is even lower at 93. It fell sharply in the second half of November but has stabilised lately.

Some local areas have seen virtually no infections for weeks but pubs and restaurants have stayed shut because of the tier restrictions.

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This morning Richard Webb, director of adult care at North Yorkshire County Council, told a media briefing of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which represents key groups in the fight against covid, that case figures were “relatively stable”.

But he said they were still higher than he would like and the county needed to continue to get them down.

Mr Webb said:

“I suspect we may well see caution prevail just simply because everyone is worried about a spike in the New Year.

“But, let’s see. It is all to play for.”

Meanwhile, Dr Lincoln Sergeant, director of public health at the council, said he hoped the county will be downgraded after Christmas.

He added the county needed to get infections down.

Dr Sergeant said:

“It’s important for us to keep the momentum going. I think we can aim for getting to tier one, it’s certainly within possibility if we keep momentum going and if we keep working together.

“But we should not be disappointed if that doesn’t happen before Christmas.”

The briefing also revealed seven sites across North Yorkshire are expected to start offering the coronavirus vaccine from next week.

North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, the body which buys medical services in the county, said it will reveal the location of the sites once they are finalised.

The Harrogate district’s daily coronavirus case figures remain low as just 16 new infections were confirmed by Public Health England today.

It takes the total number of infections in the district since the start of the pandemic to 3,741.

The latest seven-day average rate of infection, which is the rate up until December 4, stands at 93 per 100,000 people. It was 95 yesterday.

No further coronavirus deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital. The total number of deaths remains at 104.

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It comes as the UK embarked on the biggest vaccination programme in history today.

Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old grandmother, was the first to receive the jab at University Hospital Coventry this morning.

Later today Sylvia Harris, an 80-year-old health worker became the first to be given the jab at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds, which is the nearest hospital to Harrogate to have received vaccines so far.

North Yorkshire has yet to be given the green light to offer the jabs.

The police and council have taken no formal action against any of the 100 or so pubs and restaurants they visited over the weekend to check they were complying with tier two restrictions.

However, Harrogate Borough Council has said it will continue to follow-up any complaints about non-compliance.

Council staff accompanied officers from North Yorkshire Police on spot checks at venues on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, amid fears some might not be enforcing restrictions.

A spokesman for the council said today:

“Most businesses understood the new rules. We have given those who haven’t further information to ensure customers have a safe and enjoyable visit.

“We also want to ensure all businesses are operating on a level playing field and no-one is gaining an unfair advantage by breaking the current rules.

“We are pleased to say all businesses have been very willing to make any necessary adjustments.”

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Latest coronavirus numbers

The Harrogate district recorded a further 21 coronavirus cases today, taking the total number up to 3,725.

Harrogate District Hospital has not recorded any further coronavirus deaths. The total remains at 104.

The seven-day infection rate for the district is now 93 cases per 100,000 people. This is for the seven days to December 4.

The coronavirus rate of infection for the Harrogate district has increased for the first time in almost a month.

The seven-day average rate of infection peaked at 303 people per 100,000 on 9 November.

It then fell rapidly to 85 on 30 November, according to the data from Public Health England.

But yesterday’s latest figure, which is for the seven days to December 3, showed the rate had gone up on three consecutive days and is now 95.

That is still below the North Yorkshire average of 105 and the England average of 148.

But it does suggest the sharp downwards trend went into reverse before the end of lockdown on December 2.

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The district’s R number, which refers to the rate at which the virus is spreading, remains low at 0.4.

This means every 10 people infected will pass it on to another four.

Killinghall and Hampsthwaite is still the local area with the most positive cases, having recorded 21 in the last seven days.

A Harrogate charity is preparing to lend its support to the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine.

Harrogate and District Community Action (HADCA) is set to offer drivers to transport people to vaccination appointments.

The drivers and other local volunteers will be part of what has been described by Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, as “one of the biggest civilian projects in history”.

The nearest site to have confirmed to have received the first wave of Pfizer vaccines is the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, whose hospitals include Leeds General Infirmary.   On Saturday the NHS announced that a small number of GP practices will then follow from December 14th.

HADCA is now preparing drivers and staff to help to provide transport for people who have no other means of transport to where ever the vaccines are being given.

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A spokesperson for the charity said:

“We are working hard to put everything in place to be ready to take people to have their vaccinations when they are called to do so.

“A small team of voluntary car drivers will offer transport to those passengers without other means of transport and who would be suitable to use our service.”

The charity said people would need to be able to get in and out of the back of a passenger vehicle independently in order to use the service.

Richard Flinton, chair of the North Yorkshire Resilience Forum, a partnership of emergency agencies, said earlier this week that it was supporting the NHS and local partners in preparing to offer the vaccine.

He said:

“Working together with all the partners, we will ensure that the facilities and resources, which are required to support the roll-out of vaccines, are in place here. We have a strong track record in North Yorkshire of responding well to emergencies and we are already driving forward these plans together at pace.

“A vaccine has been both long-awaited and anticipated, so whatever needs to be done will be done. This programme will be led by the NHS and we look forward to further information in the coming days.”

The government has said it expects vaccinations to start this week, with elderly people in care homes and care home staff among the highest priority.

A total of 800,000 doses are expected to be distributed, but it is unclear how many will be awarded to each local area.

Today’s figures from Public Health England show 16 new coronavirus cases in the Harrogate district.

This takes the total number of cases in the district since the start of the pandemic to 3,704.

A further two coronavirus deaths have been recorded at Harrogate District Hospital which takes the total to 104. The two deaths were recorded on December 4 and 5.

The Harrogate district has a seven day rate of 95.1 per 100,000. This is still below England’s seven day rate which stands at 147.8 per 100,000 today.

Across the UK a further 17,272 coronavirus cases were reported today.

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Next week the covid vaccination programme is set to begin. Vaccinations are set to be delivered from Tuesday with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust the closest provider to the district.

GP-led primary care networks will begin delivering the vaccine in the coming weeks as the programme ramps up.