Taking part in a virtual choir tribute to NHS and key workers had an added poignancy for Ripon Grammar School student Rafaella Shiers.

Peter Hobson, the 92-year-old grandfather of sixth former Rafaella, who lives in Ripon, is currently in hospital recovering from coronavirus on the COVID-19 ward of a hospital in Lancashire and her mother, Kay, works in the NHS.

That meant that the virtual choral tribute by the Ripon Grammar School chamber choir, organised by the school’s director of music, Michael Barker, had a special significance for the 18-year-old who hopes to study history at Durham University.

Rafaella and 11 other talented singers from the school, who have been missing their weekly chamber choir rehearsals, got together on screen from their own homes for the virtual performance of Daniel Elder’s Ballade to the Moon, which Mr Barker edited and mixed together.

Video courtesy of Ripon Grammar School.

As she took part in the performance, arranged as a tribute to the front line healthcare workers, Rafaella thought about grandfather Peter, who she had been seeing on a regular basis before the coronavirus lockdown.

She said:

“I haven’t seen my grandpa since mid-March and I can’t wait to show him this tribute once I can visit him.”

Rafaella, added:

“Seeing the work and perseverance of the NHS during the crisis has been incredible and my mother, who works in community mental health, really appreciated our singing and loved the dedication to the NHS in the video.”

The Ripon Grammar School chamber choir includes sopranos, altos, basses and tenors and Mr Barker said that in putting together the virtual performance, he was also mindful of the students from years 11 and 13, whose time at the school was brought to an abrupt end because of the enforced early close down.

He said:

“I hope it provides a lasting memory for those student leavers who didn’t get a chance to finish the year properly or have a last school concert. Singing is a fantastic way to bring everyone together.”

There have been no further deaths in patients with Covid-19 at Harrogate District Hospital, according to figures released today.

The last confirmed death was on Monday, May 4th, meaning there have been six days with zero deaths reported at the hospital.

The numbers released by NHS England today cover deaths confirmed up to yesterday evening. However, it can take several days for deaths to be confirmed, especially over weekends and bank holidays, so that data could still change over the coming week.

Nationally, NHS England said there have been 209 deaths in patients aged between 40 and 99. Of those, 12 patients aged between 55 and 97 had no known underlying health conditions.

Statistics released by the NHS only cover patients who died in hospitals. As well as the 51 patients who have died to date at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, there were 39 deaths in the community, including care homes, up to April 24th.

The hospital confirmed on Thursday that it had discharged 82 patients after treatment for coronavirus.

No further deaths have been reported by Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust in the data released by NHS England today. 32 deaths were reported across the North East and Yorkshire region.

The total number of deaths at the hospital stands at 51, with 82 patients discharged after treatment for Covid-19.

The last death confirmed by the trust was on Monday, May 4th. However, it can take several days for deaths to be confirmed and added to official figures, particularly over weekends.

Today’s figures show a further 178 deaths confirmed across England, bringing the total of 23,149

Statistics released by NHS England only cover patients who were treated and died in hospitals. A further 39 people had died in the community across the Harrogate district until April 24, according to information released by the Office for National Statistics this week.

No further deaths have been reported by Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust in the data released by NHS England today.

The total for the district stands at 51 deaths, with the hospital confirming on Thursday that 82 patients had been discharged after treatment for Covid-19.

The last death confirmed by the trust was on Monday, May 4th. However, it can take several days for deaths to be confirmed and added to official figures, particularly over weekends.

Today’s figures show a further 207 deaths confirmed across England, in people aged between 37 and 100. Of those, 19 patients, aged between 60 and 95, had no known underlying health conditions.

Statistics released by NHS England only cover patients who were treated and died in hospitals. A further 39 people had died in the community across the Harrogate district until April 24, according to information released by the Office for National Statistics this week.

Harrogate District Hospital has reported 51 coronavirus deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The hospital has added another death to its total from April 21 as part of another 332 fatalities across England’s hospitals today.

Patients were aged between six weeks and 103 years old.  22 of the 332 patients, who were aged between 40 and 96 years old, had no known underlying health conditions.

CORRECTION: Yesterday the Stray Ferret incorrectly reported there had been no coronavirus deaths .There had, in fact, been a death on May 4.

As of May 7, Harrogate District Hospital has released 82 patients after recovering from coronavirus. The hospital reveals its recoveries on a weekly basis.

The number of deaths in care homes is rising according to weekly data from the Office for National Statistics.

The data, which goes up to April 24, now shows that there have been 39 deaths outside of hospitals.

In Harrogate, two people have died from coronavirus in their homes and two have died in “other communal establishments,” so the majority of deaths outside of hospitals were in care homes.

Some landlords in the Harrogate district have criticised the borough council’s plan to give commercial tenants free rent during the coronavirus pandemic.

The authority made the decision back in March as part of its response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Businesses which rent from the council were given three months free rent and could also apply for emergency grants from the government.

While other authorities offered local companies in their area rent deferrals, the borough council decided to give businesses in the district a period of rent for free.

At the time, a joint statement from chief executive Wallace Sampson and council leader Richard Cooper said the council wanted to encourage others to offer support.

It said: “Our commercial tenants will be offered three months’ rent free and we’ll be doing all that we can to encourage other landlords in the district to consider what support they can offer their tenants.”

But some landlords in the district have described the decision as “unnecessary” and pointed to the fact that the authority has estimated a £15 million shortfall in its budget.

John Warren, a housing landlord in Ripon, said while some business will need help, the cost is going to eventually have an impact on the taxpayer. He said:

“My concern is as a council taxpayer.

“We have a council which is giving money away perhaps unnecessarily and no doubt in 12 months time council tax will be put up.

“I am sure they have done it for the best of reasons, but when times are hard you have to think of the greater good which is the council taxpayer.”

Mr Warren contacted The Stray Ferret and said he was unhappy after it was revealed that the borough council is expecting a shortfall of £15 million and may have to furlough some staff to address the funding gap.

Another landlord, who did not wish to be named, said: “It does not seem fair, it will screw the market.”

In response to an e-mail from Mr Warren, Councillor Margaret Atkinson, member for Fountains and Ripley, said the authority was doing all it can to support local business.

“The council has to do everything it can to help these businesses on the instructions of the government,” she said.

“The government has given Harrogate council over £40 million to issue grants of £10,000 to small businesses that meet – 1) They are in the Harrogate district, 2) They qualify for small business rate relief or rural rate relief and 3) the business occupies the property.

“They have already had over 2,000 applications.”

However, Mr Warren described Councillor Atkinson’s response to his concerns as “very unsatisfactory”.

Meanwhile, Councillor Pat Marsh, Leader of the Liberal Democrats group on the borough council, said she thought the decision was rushed.

“I think in hindsight it was maybe a decision which should have been tempered,” she said.

“For me, I think it was a bit of a rushed decision that I wish I had given more thought.”

Harrogate Borough Council has been approached for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.

Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any coronavirus deaths in the last two days, but there has been one confirmed for May 4, in the latest statistics released by NHS England.

Meanwhile, the hospital has announced it has now discharged 82 patients after treatment for coronavirus.

#thankyouNHS pic.twitter.com/JisKnaEobX

— Harrogate NHS FT (@HarrogateNHSFT) May 7, 2020

Hospitals across the North East and Yorkshire reported another 40 deaths in today’s figures, with 383 deaths across England.

Patients were aged between 28 and 100 years old. 41 of the 383 patients, who were aged between 28 and 96 years old, had no known underlying health conditions.

However, while the number of deaths at the hospital appears to be slowing down the number of deaths in care homes is rising according to weekly data from the Office for National Statistics.

Last week, the ONS data which included deaths up to April 17 revealed that there had been 22 deaths outside of hospitals.

This week, the data goes up to April 24 and now shows that there have been 39 deaths outside of hospitals.

In Harrogate, two people have died from coronavirus in their homes and two have died in “other communal establishments,” so the majority of deaths outside of hospitals were in care homes.

A group of Harrogate photographers has raised over £2,000 for the hospital with family portraits documenting life under coronavirus lockdown.

Stacey Evans set up The Doorstep Portrait Project just three weeks ago with five other photographers and she says it is really starting to take off.

They can cover families in Starbeck, Hookstone, Bilton, Jennyfields, Shaw Mills, Harlow Hill, Leeds Road, Goldsborough, and Knaresborough all in their daily exercise with social distancing at the forefront of their minds.

The Cooney Family.

It has been so popular that they have even had requests from as far away as Brighton, something they had to turn down.

“We are over the moon,” Stacey, who started photography as a hobby, told the Stray Ferret. “None of us could imagine it would take off so well.

“This started off with the idea of raising £500 but we have gone well above that now and hope to raise as much as we can for the hospital in Harrogate.

The Hunt family.

“I moved to Harrogate fairly recently so it has been a great way of getting to know my neighbours. It’s been so nice to talk to people and see their smiles.”

She says she got the idea from a photographer in America who got some negative publicity after breaking social distancing rules and trying to make a profit.

The Needle family.

Stacey wanted to turn it into something positive so she always keeps her distance and does not charge for the photos. Instead, they ask people to donate money to Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity to help those on the frontline.

At the time of writing The Doorstep Portrait Project has raised £2,280 for the hospital.

The Foster family.

Stacey J Evans Photography, Lianne Price Photography, Nicole Wilcox Photography, Sarah Warne Photography, Charlotte Hedgecock Photography & Rachael Fawcett Photography are all involved and bring their own styles to each photoshoot.

Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any coronavirus deaths for the second day in a row.

The last time the hospital reported a coronavirus death was on Monday, with the patient losing their life the day before.

As of last Thursday, Harrogate District Hospital has also released 70 patients after recovering from coronavirus.

Hospitals across the North East and Yorkshire reported another 51 deaths in today’s figures, with 331 deaths across England.

Patients were aged between 32 and 102 years old. 17 of the 331 patients, who were aged between 46 and 88 years old, had no known underlying health conditions.

However, while the number of deaths at the hospital appears to be slowing down the number of deaths in care homes is rising according to weekly data from the Office for National Statistics.

Last week, the ONS data which included deaths up to April 17 revealed that there had been 22 deaths outside of hospitals.

This week, the data goes up to April 24 and now shows that there have been 39 deaths outside of hospitals.

In Harrogate, two people have died from coronavirus in their homes and two have died in “other communal establishments,” so the majority of deaths outside of hospitals were in care homes.

One of Harrogate’s waste recycling centres will reopen under strict controls along with half of the others in North Yorkshire.

Penny Pot Lane will be the first of Harrogate’s centres to reopen after the Government updated its advice and urged councils to make them safe for the public and for staff.

The centres will be open seven days a week including bank holidays with opening hours be between 8.30am and 5pm.

It will be managed with a queuing system with a cut-off point so if it becomes too long people will be sent back home. Trailers will not be allowed until further notice.

A limited number of people will be able to visit at any one time. Only one person will be allowed out of their vehicle once on-site, and people must remain in their vehicle while queuing.

To support social distancing, site staff will be unable to help with the disposal of waste.

People will be able to separate waste into different skips. The usual rules will apply for chargeable waste. Payment by card will be accepted only, contactless where possible.

Hand sanitising facilities at sites are limited, so people are advised to wear gloves and will be reminded to wash their hands before and after.

Commercial waste will not be accepted at this time. Commercial-like vehicles that are registered with the council will be permitted on site.

North Yorkshire County Council closed all 20 of its centres in March but will reopen ten of them tomorrow.

The council said that it cannot open all of its centres just yet because of their size, layout and proximity to roads but added that this will be reviewed continually with a view to opening more as soon as possible.

The household waste recycling centres to reopen are:

• Catterick Bridge, Gatherley Road, Catterick Bridge, DL10 7JD
• Leeming Bar, Tutin Road, Leeming Bar Industrial Estate, Leeming Bar, DL7 9UJ
• Seamer Carr, Dunslow Road, Eastfield, YO12 4QASelby, Canal Road, Selby, YO8 8AG
• Skipton, Harrogate Road, Skipton, BD23 6AB
• Sowerby, Ox Moor Plantation Lane, Sowerby, Thirsk, YO7 1FA
• Stokesley, 8 Ellerbeck Court, Stokesley Business Park, Stokesley, TS9 5PT (the existing permit system remains in place)
• Thornton le Dale, Outgang Lane, Thornton le Dale, YO18 7QP
• West Harrogate, Penny Pot Lane, Harrogate, HG3 2SN
• Whitby, Discovery Way, Whitby Industrial Estate, Whitby, YO22 4PZ

Councillor Andrew Lee, the executive member for waste management, said:

“I am pleased that we can move forward now, and thank residents for their support of the measures we have taken to date and in anticipation of their continued support to ensure the arrangements we are now putting in place can operate successfully. This will be the first phase of the reopening and we will work to reopen the other sites as soon as we can.”