Harrogate District Hospital has reported that another one of its patients who tested positive for coronavirus has died, as the number of confirmed cases in North Yorkshire passes 500.

However, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust has for the first time released figures for the number of people who have been treated and discharged. As of today, 51 people who had been admitted to the hospital have gone home.

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— Harrogate NHS FT (@HarrogateNHSFT) April 16, 2020

The latest patient died on Tuesday and was announced with a further 740 people across England today. Scotland reported 80 deaths, Wales recorded 32 and Northern Ireland reported 18.

Patients were aged between 28 and 103 years old. 40 of the 740 patients, who were aged between 45 and 93 years old, had no known underlying health condition.

Of the 740 deaths, the North East and Yorkshire region made up one of the largest proportion with 150 deaths.

As of today, there are 532 confirmed cases in North Yorkshire. A jump from 486 cases yesterday. Wednesday also marked the first time Harrogate hospital did not report a coronavirus death in 12 days.

The number of deaths in the Harrogate district now stands at 26, though these only include people who have been tested and treated in hospital. Any which happened elsewhere, such as care homes, would not be tested so are not counted in official figures.

North Yorkshire Police has handed out 153 fines to people flouting the coronavirus lockdown rules.

The force has also spoken to thousands of people and taken 2,000 reports from people detailing suspected breaches.

Some of the incidents include people getting drunk and others gathering for a barbeque in Scarborough as well as a couple camping in the North Yorkshire Moors.

Ten of the fines have been issued to parents or guardians for failing to keep their children under control.

The police issued the majority of fines to residents of North Yorkshire as well as 42% who had travelled to the county.

A breakdown of fines across North Yorkshire revealed that the majority of fines were handed out in the Scarborough district.

• Craven District – 20
• Hambleton District – 25
• Harrogate District – 6
• Richmondshire District – 6
• Ryedale District – 5
• Scarborough District – 44
• Selby District – 15
• City of York – 32

Men appear to be the worse culprit for breaking the lockdown rules with 126 fines compared to 27 issued to women. While those under the age of 35, especially those under 25, make up the majority of fines.

• 18 – 25: 68 fines issued
• 26 – 35: 49 fines issued
• 36 – 45: 19 fines issued
• 46 – 55: 10 fines issued
• 56 – 65: 4 fines issued
• 65 and over: 3 fines issued

North Yorkshire Police issued 91 of the 153 fines over the four-day Easter bank holiday weekend.

Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker, said:

“Most people understand the gravity of the situation we face, most people are moved by the tragic stories we have seen, and most people have stayed at home. Yes there have been pockets of breaches across the county, but the majority of people have listened. Each area is different and each area brings its own challenges, for example, all of the fines issued in the Craven area, the home of the Yorkshire Dales, were issued to visitors, whereas in Scarborough and York, the majority of fines were issued to residents.”

There have been no further confirmed deaths of patients with coronavirus symptoms in the Harrogate district, according to the latest information from NHS England.

In its daily update, the organisation said no coronavirus-related deaths were reported by Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust yesterday.

Although the statistics are released daily, some fatalities can take several days to be confirmed, especially following weekends. However, not only are there no deaths reported for yesterday, but there have been no additional confirmed deaths for the preceding days.

Prior to today, there had been at least one death confirmed every day since Friday, April 3rd.

Across England, there have been 651 confirmed deaths in figures released today. That compares with 744 yesterday and 677 on Monday.

The number of deaths in the Harrogate district still stands at 25, though these only include people who have been tested and treated in hospital. Any which happened elsewhere, such as care homes, would not be tested so are not counted in official figures.

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in North Yorkshire is 486, but with testing only being carried out in hospitals, it is likely that there are many more unconfirmed cases in the community.

Although the statistics could be showing a leveling-off in numbers, North Yorkshire County Council’s director of health and adult services this week warned the peak of the crisis was yet to reach the county.

Meanwhile, NHS staff have been arriving at Harrogate Convention Centre ready for the new Nightingale hospital to begin taking its first patients.

The death of a nurse who had been treating coronavirus patients at Harrogate District Hospital has prompted further concern about the level of protection given to staff.

Nurse Zauma Ekoli was known as Josie

Zauma Ekoli, who was 55 and had five children, died on Monday at Leeds General Infirmary after working on wards in Harrogate.

Daughter Naomie said her mother, who had worked on a coronavirus ward, called the provisions of personal protective equipment (PPE) available “poor” but said her mother continued to work in the job that “meant everything to her”.

“If they don’t work, then we won’t be treated, so the least they could do is up the PPE so they can make sure it doesn’t happen to another family,” she said.

Harrogate NHS Foundation Trust said it has sufficient supplies.

A spokesperson said:

“The Coronavirus pandemic has presented the NHS with many challenges, one of which is the significant increase in the use of Personal Protective Equipment.

“We have implemented the national guidance as published by Public Health England. This is very clear about what PPE should be used in which situation to protect our staff. We have enough PPE in stock, and are getting regular deliveries of new items. It is a challenge and we’re doing all we can to maintain provision.”

The Stray Ferret has received a significant number of reports of staff going without vital equipment. Individual members of staff felt unable to speak openly about the problems they faced, but many have expressed their gratitude for the additional equipment being delivered by the community.

Groups in Harrogate have mobilised to source and create PPE, including sewing hundreds of sets of scrubs for staff to wear while on shift.

The spokesperson for Harrogate NHS Foundation Trust added:

“We would like to say thank you to local schools, businesses and organisations who have very generously supported us by producing and providing Personal Protective Equipment, complementing what we are receiving via the NHS supply chain.”

‘Top priority’

Meanwhile, the director of health and adult services at North Yorkshire County Council this week put a call out for support from businesses able to create medical-grade face masks for us across health and social care services.

Richard Webb said although a delivery of PPE was received in the county last week, it was not clear when more would arrive. With government guidance on the use of protective equipment changing frequently, and staff across the NHS and social care services all needing the same supplies, any deliveries would not last long.

Speaking to The Stray Ferret on Monday evening, he said:

“What we really want is a regular supply of this equipment and at the moment that’s not coming through in the way that the NHS and councils and care providers need it.

“The government have given it a really top priority on Friday night when they announced their new plan. We need to see during the coming week much more regular supplies of the right kit.”

Harrogate District Hospital has reported that one of its patients who tested positive for coronavirus has died.

It brings the total number of deaths connected to COVID-19 at the hospital up to 25.

The death was reported yesterday and is part of a further 744 people who have died in England’s hospitals.

Patients were aged between 34 and 102 years old.

58 of those, aged between 38 and 96 years old, had no known underlying health conditions.

Across the UK, 813 people have died after contracting coronavirus.

These figures do not include deaths outside hospital, such as those in care homes.

It emerged today that the true number of deaths in the UK could be 15% higher than official figures released by the Department for Health and Social Care.

The Office for National Statistics said that the 15% increase accounts for deaths in the community and care homes.

Harrogate District Hospital has opened up an advice line for patients with cancer or suspected cancer to talk about treatment in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

The telephone line will be staffed by administrative and nursing staff so that it has clinical oversight each day.

It will be open 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm Mondays to Fridays excluding Bank Holidays. The number to call is 01423 557964.

Outside of those hours there will be a voicemail message that advises callers to contact NHS 11 or 999 in an emergency.

Anyone who has developed symptoms from their cancer treatment has been urged to call the Acute Oncology Helpline on 01423 555444.

Hospital cancels all non-urgent elective operations

It comes after the hospital was forced to cancel all non-urgent elective operations from April 15 – tomorrow – for at least three months.

Robert Harrison, Chief Operating Officer at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:

The peak of the coronavirus crisis has not yet hit North Yorkshire, but irregular and unreliable supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) are putting front line workers at risk.

North Yorkshire County Council’s director of health and adult services, Richard Webb, told The Stray Ferret that constantly changing government guidelines on the use of PPE are making it hard to predict how much is needed – and he doesn’t yet know when the next supplies will be delivered.

While gloves, aprons and hand sanitiser are all needed, the most urgent problem is finding face masks offering the right grade of protection. The type IIR face masks are in high demand around the country because they prevent fluids from passing through when staff are caring for patients.

Richard Webb

Mr Webb said: “We are asking anyone who is a producer of the right type of PPE to get in touch. We are asking businesses or schools who might be able to produce PPE, can they begin to mobilise their production. That would be really appreciated.

“That’s across the board: it’s for us, it’s for the wider care sector, it’s for the hospitals and community health service and GPs. If people are able to produce what’s required to the right spec, we would really welcome them to get in touch.”

A new PPE plan was announced by the government on Friday, with additional guidance issued over the Easter weekend. These constantly changing requirements make it even harder for the council to know how long supplies will last.

Mr Webb said the local resilience forum, which is a combination of councils, the NHS, the military and police, has been working to try to find supplies and get them to the right places. With the peak of the crisis still to come in North Yorkshire, demand will only grow.

“The figures nationally and in Yorkshire are increasing so we are still not yet at the peak date. We will expect to see an increase in cases over the coming weeks.”

NYCC’s chief executive, Richard Flinton, had previously issued a call to suppliers to help get products to the front line, while community groups have been working together to source equipment. Mr Webb thanked everyone who has contributed supplies so far, as well as reiterating advice to stay at home and follow hand-washing guidelines in order to reduce the spread of the virus.

He added:

“What we really want is a regular supply of this equipment and at the moment that’s not coming through in the way that the NHS and councils and care providers need it. The government have given it a really top priority on Friday night when they announced their new plan. We need to see during the coming week much more regular supplies of the right kit.”

Anyone who can help supply equipment should email procurement@northyorks.gov.uk.

The ever-changing challenge of the crisis

Less than 10 days ago, North Yorkshire County Council said it was well supplied with PPE.

This new appeal shows just how quickly the situation is changing: demand grows by the day, with added pressure as the government issues further guidance on the use of PPE across medical and social settings.

Evidence from those on the front line confirms that supplies aren’t reaching where they’re most needed. Over the weekend, care home operator MHA confirmed a number of its residents had died after displaying symptoms of coronavirus, and said it was desperately short of PPE across its 133 homes.

Hundreds of thousands of people up and down the country are using the same kit. While visors are being produced by schools and hand sanitiser made by businesses, it is the high-grade protective equipment, such as masks, which are harder to procure from alternative sources.

Usual supplies have been depleted, with manufacturers struggling to meet demand coming not just from the UK but internationally. With the peak of the crisis expected to hit North Yorkshire in the coming weeks, front line workers will be more desperate than ever to have access to the equipment they need to reduce the risks they are taking while caring for the most vulnerable people in society.

The Stray Ferret has been capturing some of the creative rainbow displays, that continue to appear in peoples windows across the borough.

Thousands of children are being encouraged to make the pictures to ‘spread hope’ amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The idea is to give passers-by something to smile at, whilst also giving children the opportunity to get creative whilst staying at home.

‘Nobody in Nidderdale or the Washburn Valley should go unnoticed’ – that’s the mission for the army of 600 volunteers, who are helping self-isolated people whose homes are located in far-flung rural communities within the two valleys.

In geographical terms, the neighbouring valleys take up almost half the land area of the Harrogate district, but the population is around 12,000 and the number of households approximately 6,000 – highlighting the logistical challenge that volunteers face in ensuring that nobody is missed out.

The coloured areas are in Nidderdale and the Washburn Valley and are divided into 13 areas where the volunteer networks are operating.

The response to the coronavirus crisis is being co-ordinated by the Nidderdale Plus Community Hub in Pateley Bridge, which is providing the umbrella organisation, advice and support, to 13 volunteer networks, whose volunteers are working on a daily basis to deliver food, prescriptions and other vital items to people who are self-isolated in their homes.

Helen Flynn, who co-chairs Nidderdale Plus, with Paula Newson-Smith, told The Stray Ferret:

“We have a very wide area to cover, but are determined to ensure that nobody in Nidderdale or the Washburn Valley should go unnoticed, or be out of reach of the help that the volunteers are providing.”

Working with parish councils, churches, GP practices, the Pateley Bridge Pharmacy, local shops, pubs that are providing takeaway services and the teachers from Bewerley Park Centre for Outdoor Education, Nidderdale Plus has established links with trusted organisations, who themselves marshal the volunteer activities in their own area.

Mrs Flynn (pictured above, outside the Nidderdale Plus Community Hub) pointed out:

“Our aim is to make the home delivery service as local as possible, with zones served by volunteers that typically include no more than 20 homes. This, as well as encouraging the use of local shops and a prescription delivery service that reduces the number of people going to their GP practice, is designed to limit social contact and help people to keep safe.”

Nidderdale Plus is providing the  volunteer networks with a crucial single point of reference on issues ranging from safeguarding policies to ensuring the safety of the volunteers who make the deliveries – which now include library books as well as food, medicines and pet supplies.

The huge team effort across Nidderdale and the Washburn Valley is being carefully coordinated to keep coronavirus at bay and Mrs Flynn expressed a collective wish when she said:

“We don’t want to see blue lights in our area.”

Easter is usually a time for meeting up with family and friends, taking part in Easter egg hunts and enjoying the outdoors. However, this year people are being told to stay at home and abide by government guidelines in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.

There has still been some ‘socially distanced’ entertainment for families in Harrogate, as Rascal the Easter Bunny has been dancing down the streets of Harrogate.

Melanie Vauvelle Don, who runs Rascals Entertainment in Harrogate, has organised the Bunny walks, which are taking place each day over the Easter Weekend. She said:

“It’s a family activity, Cameron my husband dresses up as Rascal, myself and my son Harrison pull along the jukebox… We use our one hour of exercise each day to go out and cheer up our neighbourhood. Everyone loves it, young and old!”

They have taken a different route each day, starting from their address in Hutton Gate and walking along nearby streets.

Monday will be the last walk and the route can be found on the Rascals Entertainment Facebook page.

Rascal the Easter Bunny