For the 16th day running, there have been no further coronavirus deaths at Harrogate District Hospital. The total since the start of the outbreak remains at 82.

According to figures released today by NHS England, there were four deaths in the North East and Yorkshire, and nine in total across the country.

The patients were aged between 73 and 92 and all had known underlying health conditions.

Read more:

• No positive coronavirus patients at Harrogate hospital
• 12 cases of coronavirus in Harrogate district as rates remain low

Yesterday, Harrogate NHS Foundation Trust confirmed it was not treating any patients with Covid-19. National statistics have also revealed there were only 12 confirmed cases across the Harrogate district in the last week.

For this reason, the Stray Ferret will pause its daily reporting of the statistics from NHS England after today. We will continue to monitor the information as it is released and to report any deaths as they are confirmed.

We will also report any other statistics released by the hospital, the ONS or other authorities, as they are announced.

Should the number of cases or deaths increase in the district in future, we will begin reporting daily again.

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Public Health England figures show 12 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Harrogate District in the past week, but infection rates across the county remain low.

The data shows a small day-by-day increase in the number of cases between July 20 and 26, with just one positive case since then.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the prevalence of the virus is “likely to be rising” in England with some lockdown easing due for August 1 being delayed.

Further data has been released by government, known as the “middle super output area”, which shows the number of cases at a neighbourhood level across the country.

The move follows complaints from local authorities that a lack of data at a local level prevented them from managing outbreaks effectively.

According to the data, four cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the Boroughbridge and Marton-cum-Grafton area last week. However, data for areas where fewer than two positive cases have been reported is not included.

Read more:

• No positive coronavirus patients at Harrogate hospital
• Harrogate Nightingale cost £15m – but still no news on its future

So far, a total 724 cases of the virus have been confirmed in the district compared with 2,566 in the wider county.

Meanwhile, Harrogate District Hospital announced yesterday that it currently has no positive coronavirus patients for the first time since the pandemic began.

The hospital has also gone 16 days without reporting a coronavirus death and no further deaths were recorded in care homes in Harrogate last week.

A spokesperson for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said that people “must remain vigilant” in order to keep cases low.

Well done to each and every one of #teamHDFT. pic.twitter.com/zimIENBlfF

— Harrogate NHS FT (@HarrogateNHSFT) July 30, 2020

It comes as last night Matt Hancock, secretary of state for health and social care, announced a local lockdown in Greater Manchester, Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale. Residents in those areas will no longer be allowed to mix with other households indoors, including in pubs and restaurants.

Mr Hancock said the government was placing areas into local lockdowns in order to prevent a second wave of the virus.

The government also announced a delay on reopening of “higher risk” areas, such as bowling alleys and weddings of up to 30 people

However, earlier this month, Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of public health at North Yorkshire County Council, told senior councillors that the county was not in the same position as those areas with high infections.

Dr Sargeant said figures in the county “remained low” and that rates in Scarborough, which were the highest, were at half the levels of Leicester – which was also put into a local lockdown in June.

He said:

“We are in a situation where the numbers are low and that gives us a good opportunity to consolidate that situation to work effectively with test and trace to keep those numbers low.”

Harrogate District Hospital has reported no positive coronavirus patients for the first time since the pandemic began.

In more good news, it was also revealed today that no coronavirus deaths have been reported at the hospital for 15 days.

This means the death toll at the hospital remains at 82. 

Well done to each and every one of #teamHDFT. pic.twitter.com/zimIENBlfF

— Harrogate NHS FT (@HarrogateNHSFT) July 30, 2020

It is the second-longest time the hospital has not reported any coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began.

Read more:

• ‘Far more’ lockdown fines for Asian men in North Yorkshire
• Harrogate Nightingale cost £15m – but still no news on its future

Nationally, 12 more patients who tested positive for the virus have died in hospital. None were in the north east and Yorkshire region.

NHS England said those patients who died were aged between 40 and 96 and all had known underlying health conditions.

It takes the death toll in England’s hospitals to 29,329.

Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any coronavirus deaths for the last two weeks.

It is the second-longest time the hospital has not reported any coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began, highlighting how the number of deaths has slowed in recent weeks.

The hospital has so far reported 82 coronavirus deaths and released 141 people after treatment for covid.

Read more:

• ‘Far more’ lockdown fines for Asian men in North Yorkshire
• Harrogate Nightingale cost £15m – but still no news on its future

Care homes figures for the Harrogate district, released yesterday, showed the number of deaths since the start of the pandemic remains at 104.

NHS England figures today showed that a further 14 people who had tested positive for coronavirus have died, including three in the North East and Yorkshire. They were aged between 55 and 90, and all but two had known underlying health conditions.

Turning Point Brew Co in Knaresborough has seen home deliveries soar during lockdown.

The brewery had always accepted online orders but received as few as “three over a few weeks” prior to lockdown, according to co-owner Aron McMahon.

But with more and more people craving their favourite beers when pubs were closed, home delivery orders rocketed to 200 each week.

Now the company has resumed supplying local bars and pubs, it is looking at its business model to see how it can sustain the increased number of home deliveries.

Mr McMahon said:

“Towards the end of lockdown the home delivery trade and our normal trade sales were neck and neck, whereas normally our home deliveries are much less.

“It definitely helped us big time. The first few weeks we really didn’t know what was going to happen without pubs. Before lockdown we had a few orders here and there – nothing really. Then over lockdown we were reached 200 orders a week!

“We also got a lot closer to our drinkers, which was great. Previously we only really knew our business contacts. Now it’s all about balancing out each side of the business.”

The brewery has quickly filled the space in its Knaresborough unit since moving less than a year ago.

Read more:

• More than 100 businesses across the Harrogate district is taking part in the Eat Out To Help Out scheme – here’s a list. 
• Harrogate’s breweries prepare as lockdown eases. 

The brewery moved to Knaresborough in the past year after out-growing its previous site in Kirkbymoorside, Ryedale.

Covid delayed the opening of its taproom for customers.

Mr McMahon said:

“We opened the taproom for the first time about a week ago. It’s been a bit of a challenge but it’s gone smooth so far. All orders are done on an app and the tables are nicely spaced out outside so we’ve had no issues.”

The brewery is also raising funds for local charity Henshaws by donating 10p from the sale of cans of the pale ale Perpetual Dawn.

North Yorkshire Police issued far more coronavirus fines than expected to young Asian men, according to an independent report published today.

The local police commissioner commented that it was a “concerning” development but said the force recognised the issue quickly.

Julia Mulligan said the force “found no evidence of bias” and that they all appear to have been issued “fairly and appropriately”.

“However, I remain very concerned that the sheer scale of fines issued to young Asian males is unfair and likely to be biased. This requires further work to understand. We must all do everything within our power to root out discrimination of any kind.”

Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people made up 5.2% of the North Yorkshire population at the last census but account for 19.75% of the fines. The report suggested that the focus on the restriction of movement may have resulted in unconscious bias against those who did not fit the local profile.

Read more:

• More lockdown fines issued in North Yorkshire than anywhere else in England
• £100 fines for not wearing face masks ‘a last resort’, say police

Craven was identified in the report as a particular problem, where 43% of fines were given to BAME individuals. A large number of those were Asian visitors from West Yorkshire, with 97% of fines given to people from outside the area.

North Yorkshire Deputy Chief Constable Phil Cain said in response to the report:

“I am pleased that the OPFCC found no evidence of discrimination, and that the FPNs issued by our officers were issued fairly and appropriately. The review found that the FPNs issued to local people are proportionate to our local demographics.

“However, it remains a cause for concern that there is disproportionality in the number of FPNs issued to BAME visitors to our force area.

“North Yorkshire Police shares the commitment of our Police Fire and Crime Commissioner to do everything within our power to root out discrimination of any kind, and I am committed to doing so.”

Latest NHS England figures show that no coronavirus deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital for nine days.

It means the death toll at the hospital remains at 82. The last reported death was on July 15.

Read more: 

• Police say fines are a last minute resort for not wearing a face covering 
• Police Federation say face coverings are impossible to enforce

Meanwhile, face coverings became mandatory in shops and supermarkets today.

The new guidelines state that coverings will be mandatory when buying takeaway food and drink but can be removed when seated at a table. 

Failure to wear a face covering could result in a £100 fine, however North Yorkshire Police said this would be a “last resort”.

143 years, not out. Harrogate Cricket Club lost its clubhouse to fire just over a decade ago and came close to bankruptcy in The Great Depression but coronavirus could have been the end of the club.

Harrogate Cricket Club played its first match at its ground at St George’s Road on July 7, 1877 but could have played its last in 2020 without major financial support.

Local sports often rely on the income generated by renting out clubhouses for events. When The Balcony at Harrogate Cricket Club closed its doors the management did not know when or if it could reopen.

Chairman Steve Clarke with The Balcony manager Andy Hawkswell.

Steve Clarke, the chairman of Harrogate Cricket Club, estimates that The Balcony’s closure over so many months left a black hole in its finances to the tune of £40,000.

Read more:

• How Harrogate Rugby Club is getting back to business
• When this Harrogate school is holding a ‘Question of Sport’

It could have been devastating to the club, which has needed to pay out for the maintenance of the grounds and facilities without any income. But grants from Harrogate Borough Council and the ECB have covered those huge costs.

A spectator boost for the club followed that financial boost last weekend, with around 100 people turning up to watch the games and a few members visiting The Balcony for drinks.

The Balcony is open for business.

Chairman Steve Clarke told The Stray Ferret that they cannot generate income without playing cricket:

“It has been really difficult. It is really interesting for the senior teams. We have to make sure everyone is socially distanced, that the toilets are cleaned regularly and that there are hand sanitiser stations around the club. The league has slimmed down the fixtures and ruled out promotion or relegation so everyone can get out and play.”

The Balcony will be key to the club’s future. Andy Hawkswell has just taken over as the new tenant and plans to give it a refreshed ‘sports bar’ feel. He said:

“There have been a lot of people waiting for us to open. It is good to see. We are making some big changes on the pitch and off it. We are going to be broadening the horizons of what we offer in terms of our food and drink and also by renting out the space we have here for schools and community groups.”

Latest figures from NHS England show no further coronavirus deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital in the last 24 hours.

It means the total number of deaths from coronavirus at the hospital remains at 82.

Meanwhile, nationally, a further 10 deaths from patients who tested positive for the virus have died in hospital.

Read more: 

• North Yorkshire Police Federation say they can’t enforce face masks in shops
• Local company make 7,500 face masks 

Of that number, one patient died in the North East and Yorkshire.

NHS England said the patients were aged between 50 and 97 years old and all had known underlying health conditions.

It takes the national death toll from coronavirus up to 29,212.

Knaresborough’s Frazer Theatre has said it will remain closed until 2021 because it is not possible to observe social distancing and be financially viable.

The theatre, which is just off the town’s high street, has a capacity of 127 people but with social distancing this number would decrease hugely.

It has therefore decided to put the safety of its audience and volunteers first and postpone reopening.

John Pearce, vice-chairman of Frazer Theatre, said it was financially secure and lucky to be able to stay closed with minimal expenses because it is run entirely by volunteers.

Rehearsals at the theatre, which staged about 180 performances last year, will therefore resume no earlier than March 2021.

Mr Pearce said:

“The number one concern is safety and until we’re 100% safe or as near to it as we can be we just aren’t going to risk it. One thing we wonder about is how quickly audiences will feel comfortable to return.

If we have to keep a metre between people we are essentially blocking nine chairs around every one and that would be really difficult to organise. We’ve gone through the guidance as it stands and the sad answer is until there’s almost no restrictions we won’t be able to open.

“It’s not a decision we took lightly but it’s been a tough time.”

This theatre is postponing its reopening until the full theatre experience can be enjoyed.

Read more:

• Pateley Bridge Playhouse has been hit hard by Covid but remains hopeful for the future.
• District theatres have no plans to move outdoors even after government regulations allow it. 

The theatre is hopeful that restrictions will eventually ease enough to allow it to reopen. But it is concerned about the overall impact the pandemic could have on the arts in the district. Mr Pearce added:

“We hope that by Christmas things will have eased so we can plan for next year. We’d love to be able to open but we don’t want to go to the effort of booking shows and having to cancel them again and disappoint people.

“We know we’re blessed to be secure, it breaks our heart to know there are theatre groups and bigger theatres talking about shutting.”