Ripon Cathedral will make history on Sunday, when its Easter Day service is streamed live on YouTube, as the building remains closed to the public because of restrictions caused by the coronavirus crisis.

The Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfrid, whose roots go back more than 1300 years, is using the internet to ensure that the key day in the Christian calendar can still be shared by parishoners and other viewers, in their own homes.

The Dean of Ripon, The Very Reverend John Dobson, told the Stray Ferret:

“I will be leading the service, which will be shown live at 10.30am and the address will be given by the Bishop of Leeds, The Rt Reverend Nick Baines.”

The last Sunday service held in the cathedral was on the fourth Sunday of Lent, when just seven parishoners – spaced throughout the building to ensure social distancing was maintained – observed as the Dean conducted the Sung Eucharist. That service was also beamed live into approximately 100 homes.

As the government stepped up its advice on the need to adhere to measures to reduce social contact, the Church of England, in common with other faiths, closed all of its churches.

Those wishing to tune in to the Cathedral’s Easter Sunday service can do so via its website.

An Easter Day message from The Very Reverend Dobson, will be posted on The Stray Ferret on Sunday.

There has been one more coronavirus-related death at Harrogate NHS Foundation Trust in the latest information released by the NHS.

The patient died yesterday, Friday April 10th, bringing the total number of deaths at the hospital to 21. Of those, 12 have been in the last week, with the first death on March 16th.

Nationally, NHS England has confirmed a further 823 fatalities today, with patients aged between 11 and 102. Thirty-three of those, aged between 29 and 94, had no known underlying health conditions.

The number of confirmed deaths only covers those in hospital. Any in the community, including care homes, are not counted.

No statistics have been released about the number of patients who have tested positive for coronavirus before recovering and being discharged from hospital.

Law firms across the Harrogate district are collaborating in an unprecedented way in order to meet changing demands during the coronavirus crisis.

Harrogate and District Law Society has reported a rise in demand for wills and powers of attorney, as people see the worrying news of more deaths each day.

Solicitors are also trying to keep routine work moving during the crisis, including dealing with emergency applications to family courts and processing house purchases.

Georgina Parkin, president of The Harrogate and District Law Society and managing director of Truth Legal Solicitors, said: “Over the years, lawyers in this area have always collaborated.

“During these unprecedented times, I am pleased to report that lawyers are collaborating to far higher level than I have known, all in the best interests of their clients. Once coronavirus is defeated, my hope – and my expectation – is that this collegiate attitude will continue.”

As the coronavirus has unfolded, lawyers have been sharing useful updates, such as changing court opening hours or ways of working, including hearings using video conferencing software.

On behalf of the society, Ms Parkin thanked staff and judges at Harrogate Justice Centre, which is continuing to deal with cases, as well as to police, prison officers, social workers, and postal and delivery staff who are keeping the process of justice going. Meanwhile, a litigation trial was held by video conference for the first time last week, while family courts are responding quickly to emergency applications during the crisis.

With many solicitors working from home and juggling the pressures of balancing home life and casework, especially with clients distressed by the situation, Ms Parkin said the law society was offering additional support for members’ mental health.

She added: “In Harrogate and district, the rule of law is alive and well even during these trying times. The solicitors in our region are adapting to these challenging times and continue to provide their clients with an excellent level of service.”

Easter weekend usually marks the start of a very busy summer season across the district, but officers are stressing that making unnecessary journeys could literally mean the difference between life and death.

Police have already stepped up patrols in Harrogate after they’ve seen an increase in the number of people visiting the town and flouting the coronavirus lockdown rules.

Harrogate’s Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Penny Taylor of North Yorkshire Police said:

“Whilst we know the majority of people in the town are doing the right thing and staying at home, despite the beautiful weather, it is unacceptable that some people are showing such a blatant disregard for the Government’s guidance.

North Yorkshire Police said it was disappointing and meant the force would be stepping up patrols elsewhere in the area, so increased police presence should be expected over the Easter weekend.

Guidelines state people should stay at home except to buy food or medicines, or go to work.

Richard Flinton, chair of the multi-agency North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum and chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“The next few weeks are critical in the nation’s fight to slow the rate of infection of this very dangerous virus.  We all have our part to play and what we do now will have a bearing on whether more people die or whether lives are spared. If we act irresponsibly more people will die.  The instruction is to exercise from your doorstep once a day and not to travel to other places for this.”

North Yorkshire Police’s Traffic Bureaus are also urging drivers not to use the county’s roads as a racetrack, having recorded speeds of up to 132mph over the past two weeks. Police patrols and safety camera vans, which are operated by key-worker police staff rather than officers, have been used at key locations to try to prevent further casualties and protect valuable emergency service and NHS resources.

19 Harrogate Churches have organised a continuous, uninhttps://thestrayferret.co.uk/harrogate-church…r-easter-weekend/terrupted prayer over the Easter weekend for those affected by coronavirus.

Pray for The Peak is part of a wider global movement for virtual 24/7 prayer.  The Harrogate Hub, which works to coordinate projects across the town’s churches, has organised a prayer which aims to last 72 hours.

Colin Ashurst from the Harrogate Hub said:

“We have been aware of the 24/7 movement and we felt with the Nightingale hospital coming here and the risk of there being real grief in Harrogate and for people self-isolating at home, this was something churches could do, to spend time in prayer. The movement has given us advice and guidance on how to do this virtually.”

A 24/7 prayer room in normal times

There is a calendar people can sign up to individually to pray for an hour or more – last night every slot was filled. Mr Ashurst said:

“We’ve had a good response as we only got the word out yesterday. We’re doing ok- we got through last night and we’ve still got people coming in. It’s looking good for tonight but after that there are some gaps and we’d encourage people to get involved.. I’m signed up for the midnight and one o’clock slots tonight.”

For those interested in being involved, you can register at http://theharrogatehub.org/24-7/.

Handmade rainbows are appearing in windows all over the Harrogate district as the community aims to spread a little happiness in uncertain times.

Many of the posters have been drawn or painted by children, while other messages of support for the NHS have also appeared in various locations.

The isolation art appearing in house windows has often been accompanied by messages to stay home, stay safe and stay positive.

With schools closed and the UK in lockdown, “chase the rainbow” is a way for children to connect with each other from a distance.

Harrogate’s Convention Centre turned blue tonight as it took part in a special ‘Clap for Carers’ ahead of its opening.

NHS Teams, emergency services and construction workers stood outside the front of the centre itself to join in with the applause. There was a real sense of community support as residents clapped from nearby gardens, balconies and doorways.

Yorkshire Lighting and Electrical Services, which is based in Harrogate, has installed 20 blue lights around the front of the building. Views For Fun also based in Harrogate donated blue fairy lights for the 12 trees that line the Kings Road beside the centre.

Music is lifting residents’ spirits on Mount Gardens during the coronavirus lockdown.

Derry Jones normally plays the piano at Bettys but has recently performed for the street with his wife Jovita.

Anne and Barry Good’s weekly dance classes have been cancelled but this has been the perfect opportunity to keep moving.

Harrogate District Hospital has reported another coronavirus-related death, bringing the hospital’s total up to 17.

It is one of 92 deaths in the North East and Yorkshire region of 765 across England reported today. The total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England is now at 7,248.

The patient deaths reported today were aged between 24 and 103 years old. 43 of the 765 patients, aged between 33 and 99 years old, had no known underlying health conditions.

North Yorkshire currently has 328 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Figures for the number of patients who have been treated in hospital and discharged are not currently available.

Meanwhile, the Nightingale hospital being created at Harrogate Convention Centre is expected to be complete by this weekend.

A Harrogate man claims to be one of thousands who has fallen through the cracks of government support because he changed jobs after February 28.

Mark Foster left his office job in Leeds on good terms on March 13 to work at a Harrogate pub before joining the police’s new graduate scheme in July.

Just a couple of days into his new role, the pub he was working for had to close in line with government social distancing advice.

In response to the pandemic, the government announced a package of support that included the provision to furlough staff and pay 80% of their wages up to £2,500 a month.

But that support is only open for employees who were on payroll on February 28. The pub could only put Mark on unpaid leave and his previous employers refused to help.

He is one of over 64,000 people who has signed a petition to demand that the furlough scheme is opened up to new starters because it is a “major oversight.”

Mark has been left to rely on his partner Aimee Beckett, who is working as a digital content designer from home. He told the Stray Ferret:

“I am not entitled to Universal Credit because I have been put on unpaid leave and because my partner Aimee Beckett is still working. We are fortunate because we have some money saved up in a Help to Buy ISA but we don’t know how long we will be able to last. I don’t think that anybody is at fault. It is just a loophole in the government support that needs to be filled. I have been paying tax and national insurance for over ten years but when I need support it isn’t there.”

Mark Foster (left) says he is being punished for trying to further his career.

The pressure is increasing on the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to open up the furlough scheme to new starters with the Chair of the Treasury Committee admitting that “urgent action is needed.”

Mel Stride MP has sent the following letter to the Chancellor:

“The Chancellor has provided a detailed explanation of the support measures that he has announced so far. However, as the summaries of evidence that we have published show, some people appear to have been left behind. Significant progress has been made and millions of people will be helped by the Government’s schemes, but some people have slipped through the net.”