coronavirus Archives - Page 54 of 86

Three more Harrogate schools report confirmed covid cases

A further three schools in Harrogate have reported confirmed cases of coronavirus in their students.

It comes as six new cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district in the last day, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 894.

St Aidan’s C of E High School, St John Fisher Catholic High School and Bilton Grange Primary School have all sent confirmation to parents that they are following protocol and a number of students have been asked to self-isolate at home for 14 days.

The headteacher of St John Fisher has confirmed two cases of coronavirus among students. Similarly to the other schools, it has asked other students who had close contact with either of those diagnosed to self-isolate at home.

Mr Mort said:

“Due to the year group bubble arrangement and fixed seating plans which we have in place, we have been able to identify and contact a small number of students who have commenced a self-isolation period of 14 days. This has meant that we have not needed to close a full class/year group bubble. We are working with Public Health England and following all guidance necessary to ensure the school environment is as safe as possible.”

It is understood at least one of the cases relates to a student in the sixth form, which is joint with neighbouring St Aidan’s.

A letter to parents at St Aidan’s said the school was working with Public Health England and had asked some students to stay at home for 14 days. Headteacher Chris Burt said:

“St Aidan’s works alongside St John Fisher in providing the Associated Sixth Form across our schools. We were informed on Wednesday of a confirmed case of Covid-19 within the schools that has resulted in a small number of students having to observe a 14 day isolation period. The schools across the Association continue to work closely with Public Health England and the Local Health Protection Team.

“We wish the student concerned a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming all students involved back to school as soon as possible.”

Bilton Grange Primary School has also sent a letter to parents confirming a case. Students in one bubble in the school are self-isolating at home.

Just weeks into the new term some students are being sent home again in order to self-isolate.

Earlier this week, both Harrogate Grammar School and Harrogate Ladies’ College confirmed they had students who had received positive coronavirus tests. Other students in their ‘bubbles’ are now isolating at home for 14 days.

The additional cases in schools come a day after North Yorkshire county council say it has introduced full emergency status as it deals with the rising number of cases in the county.

The authority said the highest numbers of cases are centred around the Harrogate and Selby districts.

North Yorkshire declares covid emergency

The group of organisations coordinating North Yorkshire’s response to coronavirus announced today it has gone back into full emergency mode.

North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum said it had taken the action in response to rising infection rates, particularly in the Harrogate and Selby districts, as well as concerns about care home transmission and testing capacity.

Richard Flinton, who is chair of the forum and chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, said “positive tests in Harrogate remain a worry”.

He added the council was “extremely keen to avoid enforced lockdowns if that is possible”.

Mr Flinton said:

“We are seeing community transmission of the virus now and a worrying rise in cases in a number of areas. We know how quickly infection rates can change and we are calling on the whole county to act now with us in response.”

Mr Flinton said the county council would reinstate major incident status for covid. He added:

“We will be communicating some very important messages with you over the coming days and weeks. Your response to the asks we put to you will be critical.”

Superintendent Mike Walker, gold commander for North Yorkshire Police’s response to covid, said officers in patrol cars were encouraging people to follow the rules, using enforcement as a last resort.

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of public health for North Yorkshire, said testing was being hampered by “significant limitations” with laboratory capacity. He added:

“This issue is a national one and outside of our control. We have escalated our concerns nationally and we are targeting our local testing facilities towards the communities and people in greatest need.”

Harrogate Ladies’ College confirms covid case

Harrogate Ladies’ College has confirmed one of its students has tested positive for coronavirus.

Other pupils, identified as being in close contact, have also been sent home to isolate.

It is the second time in 24 hours that a Harrogate school has been affected by covid.

The Stray Ferret reported yesterday that Harrogate Grammar School had reported a positive case. The school sent 45 students home to isolate for 14 days.

Harrogate Ladies’ College did not say how many pupils had been affected. A spokeswoman said:

“We can confirm that one pupil at Harrogate Ladies’ College has tested positively for covid. The pupil is well, and isolating at home.

“We are working closely with Public Health England and the NHS track and trace system, and any pupils who have been in close contact with this particular student are now also self-isolating in line with government guidance.”

Despite the two incidents in local schools. coronavirus levels in North Yorkshire county are below the national average.

County council bosses have urged residents to remain vigilant and “avoid unnecessary interactions”.

Test and trace system is ‘broken’, says Harrogate mum

A Harrogate mother has said the government’s covid test and trace system is broken after she spent two days trying to book a test.

Madeline Smyth endured several fruitless hours yesterday and Monday regularly refreshing the NHS website and dialling the 119 test and trace phone line to arrange a check for her daughter Caitlin, 16, who had a persistent cough.

Ms Smyth finally secured a slot at a site in Burnley, which is a two-hour round drive from Harrogate.

She was fortunately spared the trip because the government’s mobile testing centre happened to be in Dragon Road, Harrogate, yesterday.

On her second visit to the centre, staff provided a test kit even though they said they were only supposed to help people who had managed to book online to be seen there.

Ironically the centre itself appeared quiet because, Ms Smyth suspects, people were unable to get the online booking system to work.

Ms Smyth, who has post-viral fatigue, said:

“It angers me to see people on the telly say there are plenty of tests available. There may well be but the system to access them is broken.

“We were at the Dragon Road site for 35 minutes and only saw two or three cars turn up. Seven or eight people working there were sitting around waiting for cars to turn up.

“The staff themselves were very nice and helpful and I think we only got a test because the poor girl we spoke to took pity on me because she could see I wasn’t fit to drive to Burnley and my daughter was showing covid symptoms.”

Caitlin, who attends Rossett School in Harrogate, and her brother Oliver, 12, are isolating at home pending the test result.

Ms Smyth suspects her post-viral fatigue is a legacy of covid contracted last winter, which contributed to her relinquishing her role as a teacher at Nidderdale High School. She added:

“I was lucky because I am not working now so I was able to spend two days searching for a test. It was exhausting and stressful but there must be hundreds of working mums in the area with kids that have covid symptoms who don’t have the time to go through this.”

Ms Smyth said schools should be issued with test kits that can be given to children as soon as they develop symptoms.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:

“NHS test and trace is working, we are processing a million tests a week but we are seeing significant demand for tests, including from people who do not have symptoms and are not otherwise eligible.

“Anyone with an appointment will not be turned away, new booking slots and home testing kits are made available daily for those who need them and we are targeting testing capacity at the areas that need it most, including those where there is an outbreak, and prioritising at-risk groups.

“We recently announced new facilities and technology to process results even faster. If you do not have symptoms and are not eligible to get a test you should not be coming forward for one.”

Harrogate Grammar School confirms covid case

Harrogate Grammar School revealed today that a pupil has tested positive for coronavirus.

The school said it had identified 45 other students who have been in close proximity to the pupil and told them to stay home for 14 days to isolate.

It did not confirm which year group had been affected.

But it said its safety measures had prevented any teachers needing to isolate.

A spokesperson from Harrogate Grammar School, said it had acted on advice from North Yorkshire County Council, adding:

“We can confirm that we have a positive case of covid in our school community. All parents have received a letter.

“We can’t confirm which year group the student is in as that is confidential. Due to year groupings and fixed seating plans for each class we have been able to identify those in close proximity and this in turn has meant the whole year group bubble has not had to self-isolate.”

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, North Yorkshire County Council’s director of public health, said:

“We expect from time to time there will be positive cases affecting teachers, parents or pupils. This may be reflective of the background increase in cases across North Yorkshire. We will work with each school individually to determine the best approach to take depending on the circumstances.

“If you haven’t been contacted by the school, then your child is not a contact of the person who has tested positive and can continue attending school as normal. Please only get a test if you have symptoms or are instructed to by contact tracers.”

Harrogate District Hospital to increase covid tests for staff

Harrogate District Hospital is to increase the number of coronavirus tests for staff amid concerns some NHS employees are being forced to miss work to self-isolate because tests aren’t available.

NHS Providers, which represents English hospital trusts, said today there were clear capacity problems with the testing regime.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said trust leaders from Bristol, Leeds and London had all raised concerns that a lack of testing availability had led to greater levels of staff absence. He added:

“The problem is that NHS trusts are working in the dark – they don’t know why these shortages are occurring, how long they are likely to last, how geographically widespread they are likely to be and what priority will be given to healthcare workers and their families in accessing scarce tests.”

A spokesman for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said it had its own staff testing facility and that any staff member required to have a test had received one. He added:

“We’re continuing to monitor demand for testing. In line with recent general increases in demand, we are in the process of extending our staff service to ensure we have capacity going forward.”

Coronavirus cases in North Yorkshire below national average

The rate of coronavirus cases in North Yorkshire remains below the national average, despite concerns about an increase in infections.

A monthly meeting of North Yorkshire Outbreak Management Advisory board will hear tomorrow that the rate of cases in the county stands at a cumulative total of 497 per 100,000 population.

The overall rate for England is 569 per 100,000 population.

Public health bosses issued a plea last week for people to be vigilant and continue to social distance after an increase in coronavirus infections in North Yorkshire, particularly in the Harrogate, Scarborough and Selby districts.

The Harrogate district has seen a rise in cases in recent weeks, reaching a daily high of 21 on September 7, according to Public Health England figures.

The cumulative rate of cases in the Harrogate district stands at 544 per 100,000 population. This is below neighbouring Leeds, which is on 695 cases.

Leeds was made an “area of enhanced support” after its seven-day rate up to September 8 reached 69.7 cases per 100,000 people.

It means the city is receiving additional support and resources for testing.

Dr Lincoln Sargaent, director of public health at North Yorkshire County Council, last week urged people to to “avoid unnecessary interactions” to prevent the spread of the virus, particularly among young people.

County council bosses have urged residents to follow the government’s new ‘rule of six’, which forbids social gatherings of more than six people except in certain circumstances.

Chief inspector Charlotte Bloxham, North Yorkshire Police, said residents had “responded brilliantly” in previous months and expected the same response with the new rule.

She said:

“It’s vital that we react quickly to this advice and do everything we can to prevent the spread of the virus, as we all know how dangerous and devastating covid can be.”

Coronavirus test error could delay Harrogate man’s surgery

A Harrogate man fears a problem with the NHS coronavirus test booking website could delay his surgery.

Terry Jones needs to test negative for coronavirus before he can be admitted to hospital but so far he has been unable to secure a test.

Mr Jones is not exhibiting any coronavirus symptoms but there is no option on the site to book a test because a clinician asks you to do so.

Mr Jones, who asked for details of his surgery to remain private, told the Stray Ferret:

“I could lie on the form but I don’t know how that could impact my treatment going forward if I said I have coronavirus symptoms. I hope that it does not delay my surgery. There will be tens of thousands more people just like me.”

There is no “my clinician has asked me to get a test” option.

Mr Jones said the NHS site had recently removed the “a clinician has asked me to get a test” option as well as the option to book a test before going on holiday.

The Stray Ferret took his concerns to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). A spokesperson said:

“We have always been clear if you have symptoms of coronavirus, or are asked by a clinician or local authority to get a test then you should apply for one.

“We are seeing a significant demand for tests. That’s why we have simplified the booking process.”

The DHSC did not commit to reviewing the booking website to give users the option of saying their clinician had recommended they book a test.

It comes shortly after one Harrogate mum was informed by the coronavirus test website she had to drive to Oldham next month for a test.

Harrogate clothing boutique forced online after coronavirus crisis

The owner of a pre-loved clothing shop has closed the doors in order to focus her efforts online.

Carolyn Duggan has been running Still Gorgeous on Cold Bath Road since 2017. The shop offered a selection of pre-loved designer and high street womenswear.

Having closed in March, Still Gorgeous reopened in July as government restrictions eased, but faced multiple challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The shop relied on business from tourists, which has not yet returned to pre-Covid levels, and the owner said she experienced a lack of compassion from her landlord. She said:

“I did not get any sympathy from my landlord. I was just told to pay them the money. I know others who received a 20-30% monthly rent reduction or complete rent holidays for 2-3 months.

“They also increased the rent for the new tenant, so when I was leaving I did not have the option to change my mind.”

The business moves at a time when other Harrogate businesses like A P & K Stothard, Bookstall Newsagents and Gambaru Fitness close their doors.

However, Carolyn still feels positive about the change of direction at Still Gorgeous. She added:

“I’m quite excited, to be honest – it is the way forward. You have to adapt to the situation and diversify. I am changing strategy to reach a more diverse customer base. I am engaging more with different channels like social media.

“I am feeling positive about the next stage. I have already reached people down south and abroad.”

Carolyn’s Facebook page has already received many posts from customers wishing her luck in her new venture.

Strayside Sunday: If our government feels able to break the law then why shouldn’t we?

Strayside Sunday is our weekly political opinion column. It is written by Paul Baverstock, former Director of Communications for the Conservative Party.

Lament; a noun. As in “a week-long lament for the rule of law and Britain’s standing in the world”.

To lament; a verb. As in “I lament the end of a credible Conservative Government”.

Either way, it’s a sad tale and a sorry state of affairs.

Having focused my attention on the small “p” politics and goings on in Harrogate and surrounds for the past 16 weeks I find I need a refresher, to avert my gaze and take in vistas new. It’s not so much that I’m tired, or that I think that the performance of Harrogate Borough Council is not worthy of attention. Quite the reverse. The great American Speaker of the House of Representatives Thomas “Tip” O’Neill had it almost right when he said that “all politics is local” (when in fact it may be that ‘all that’s local is politics’). No, it’s rather that, in respect of the council, I find myself in the first stage of grief; one of shock and denial, in which I inhabit a state of disbelief and numbed feelings. I need to look away for a moment and think of something else, to find some hope.

So to Westminster, to the excitement and derring do of the national scene and to the swashbuckling antics of Enid Blyton character and Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. The mop haired titan must be feeling the pressure. On two fronts, the ongoing Covid-19 crisis and the haunting return of Brexit.

Coronavirus rates of infection are climbing alarmingly again in many of our towns and cities. Published by Public Health England, the Joint Biosecurity Centre and NHS Test and Trace, the government watchlist, in which places are categorised as places of ‘concern’ (green) as warranting ‘enhanced support’ (amber) or as requiring ‘intervention’ (red), is beginning to resemble New York’s 5th Avenue when the traffic lights turn and stop all north/south traffic. The trend is not good.

In an attempt to avoid a second national lockdown and never one to let a good slogan go to waste, on September 9, the PM announced “The Rule of Six,” which means that, from tomorrow, no more than 6 Englishmen and Women can gather, indoors or out. If we do we will be breaking the law. But, I hear you cry, it would only be in, as Brandon Lewis MP said, a “very specific and limited way.” Hang on. Wait a minute. My apologies, I got my wires crossed there for a moment. When the Northern Ireland Secretary said that he was actually talking about the fact that Britain looks like it is going to break international law by putting a bill to Parliament overriding elements of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. Including parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol negotiated and signed during Ripon’s own MP Julian Smith’s tenure as predecessor to Brandon Lewis.

I’m of the opinion that the Conservative Party is the party of freedom. Guardians of a rule of law based on the notion of individual sovereignty and responsibility. Boris Johnson, if he believes anything, is a libertarian who thinks we should all be left alone to control our own lives, in so far as moral conduct and the law allows. So it’s a world turned upside down in which this Prime Minister inflicts upon us restrictions on our movements and associations unprecedented in peacetime. Rather than appealing to our moral code, appealing to our better angels if you will, the government is instead imposing a new penal code. Clearly our government doesn’t trust us to behave properly and wants us punished when we don’t.

I’m also of the opinion that the Conservative Party is the party of law and order. Which is to say that rules and their observance matter if we are to maintain a functioning and civilised society. But Britain’s leaders govern by consent, within a legal framework. We have to trust our leaders to do the right thing, by us. And our leaders have to work to maintain our trust if they are to have our consent to govern. Yet the Rule of Six has a disquietingly fascistic sense to it, if not a black-shirt vibe then certainly brown. Governing by consent this is not.

And breaking international law when it becomes inconvenient cannot be right. The law is not an a la carte menu available only to the few, it’s a prix fixe with set options, for the mass market. If our government feels able to break the law when it chooses then why shouldn’t we? With our international reputation already tarnished badly by our Brexit shenanigans to date, redacting unilaterally the bits of the (already signed) Withdrawal Agreement is dishonourable and edges toward tin pot. The government has lost credibility. The EU says told you so.

Finally, all of this has wound up a bizarre coalition of Tory Big Beasts. Thatcherite, Brexiteer Lords Howard and Lamont are joined, in their spluttering outrage at the latest turn of events and the actions of their own party’s government, by One Nation, Remainer Lords Heseltine and Gummer, as well of course as by Sir John Major. I share their view. So should every Conservative. So should everyone. If we don’t we are all diminished.

That’s my Strayside Sunday.

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