North Yorkshire is week behind London’s covid surge, health official warns

North Yorkshire is a “week or so” behind London’s surge in covid infections and hospitalisations, a health official has warned.

Dr Victoria Turner, public health consultant at North Yorkshire County Council, told a meeting of the county’s Outbreak Management Advisory Board that the capital remained at the epicentre of the Omicron wave and there were still a “relatively small number” of cases in North Yorkshire.

But she added infections were likely to rise and that hospitalisations would follow as the true impact of the new variant is felt over the New Year.

She said:

“The level of hospitalisations we are seeing at the moment are predominantly reflecting where we were with the Delta variant a couple of weeks ago.

“But it is safe to say Omicron is going to be the dominant variant in North Yorkshire.”

The warning comes as early studies by researchers at the Imperial College London have found the Omicron variant may cause milder illness than Delta.

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Dr Turner said while the findings were encouraging, it was still early data and that the larger number of infections from Omicron meant a rise in hospitalisations – similar to what is being seen in London – should be expected.

She said:

“It is still not 100% certain how severe Omicron is compared to Delta and other previous variants.

“And there still remains the same lag time between becoming infected and hospitalised, so over the next week or two we are likely to see hospitalisations increase as the Omicron wave is reflected in the figures.

“There is then usually a week to two weeks lag between hospitalisations and deaths.”

13 covid patients in Harrogate hospital

Hospitalisations are the key figures which government ministers are now monitoring as they consider further restrictions to slow the spread of the virus and prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said no further measures are needed at present as he also urged people to be cautious over Christmas.

The meeting of the North Yorkshire Outbreak Management Advisory Board heard there are currently 94 covid patients in the county’s hospitals, including 39 in South Tees, 26 in York, 16 in Scarborough and 13 in Harrogate.

Sue Peckitt, chief nurse at the NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, described the situation as “fairly stable” but added health services were still feeling the strain from winter pressures.

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She also said a large number of the covid patients currently receiving treatment were over 65s and that most of those in intensive care were unvaccinated or had underlying health conditions.

She said:

“There are currently 94 inpatients across the North Yorkshire bed base, 10 of which are in intensive care.

“This is a fairly stable picture and we are preparing for any influx should we need to step up additional beds over Christmas and New Year.

“Omicron is coming into North Yorkshire and we anticipate that we may see more hospitalisations, but we are waiting to see what the trend is showing in other parts of the country.”

Fewer people at vaccine sites

Mrs Peckitt also said while the vaccination rollout was going “exceptionally well”, officials had noted a drop in attendance at vaccine sites in recent days.

She said this is thought to be due to patients concerned about feeling unwell with vaccine side effects over the festive period.

According to UK Health Security Agency figures, more than 370,060 people across North Yorkshire have now had their booster vaccine.

This represents around 64% of the county’s population.

Meanwhile, Selby has the highest weekly infection rate in the county with 716 cases per 100,000 people. This is followed by Harrogate at 643, Craven 617, Ryedale 594, Hambleton 545, Richmondshire 417 and Scarborough 352.

‘Terrifying but rewarding’: Harrogate home carer reflects on another covid year

A Harrogate home carer has said working through a pandemic for 20 months has been some of the hardest months she’s had to face.

Throughout the pandemic home carers have continued to go into the homes of the vulnerable even if covid was present. One of those is Rachel Yarwood,  an assistant manager at St Margaret’s Homecare, which assists people in their homes in and around Harrogate.

She said coronavirus has meant her job can be both “terrifying and rewarding”.

Working through different tiers in full PPE has not been easy for anyone on the frontline, but Ms Yarwood said she felt home carers in particular were the “forgotten group”.

She said doing 17-18 calls a day while trying to bathe people was extremely tough. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, the St Margaret’s staff were making aprons out of car seat covers to prevent them running out.

“The NHS have been amazing but we have worked hard too to keep people out of hospital and at home.

“It’s been extremely hard at times. I remember having a chat with my daughter at the beginning giving her instructions on how to look after my other two kids in case I got it because back then we didn’t know how bad it would be.”

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For many of the clients, Ms Yarwood and her team were the only people they were seeing for a long time. She said “we became like family”.

“Some were really depressed at times. It was really hard to see some of them deteriorate and feel so lonely.”

Looking ahead to next year, Ms Yarwood said:

“We aren’t becoming complacent, we know covid isn’t going anywhere. But we are much more prepared now. We’ll just keep pulling together as a team.”

The November image from the charity calendar

Ms Yarwood and her team have also been photographed for a charity calendar to raise money for Mind. She said the ‘Covid Calendar Girls’ calendar came about after seeing the impact of isolation on clients.

She said:

“We just wanted to do out bit and it was a lot of fun. I hope it makes a few people smile and more importantly raises money for Mind.”

To find out more and support the calendar appeal, click here.

Harrogate district covid rate now above 600

The Harrogate district’s covid rate is now above 600 per 100,000 people as infections soar.

A further 125 cases have been confirmed in the district, according to latest government figures.

The district’s seven-day rate has climbed over the past week as the Omicron variant continues to spread across the UK.

The district’s average now stands at 644 infections per 100,000 people.

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Across the county, the average stands at 562 and the England rate has soared to 1,006.

The figures comes as 119,789 cases were reported across the UK. The number is another record day for covid infections nationally.

Meanwhile, UK Health Security Agency figures show that a total of 99,081 booster and third vaccines have been given in the Harrogate district so far.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

Latest available figures show 13 covid patients are being treated at Harrogate District Hospital – an increase from eight last week.

Harrogate Town’s Boxing Day clash with Bradford postponed

Harrogate Town‘s game away at Bradford City on Boxing Day has been postponed due to a covid outbreak in the Bradford squad.

Bradford City told the English Football League that it would be unable to field a full team for the fixture due to the number of covid cases in their squad.

The Yorkshire derby was one of the most eagerly awaited matches of the year for Town fans, with a large crowd and a festive atmosphere expected at Bradford. It will now be rearranged.

A host of games in the Premier League and the English Football League were postponed over the weekend due to covid outbreaks.

Harrogate Town are due to travel to Tranmere tomorrow in the second round of the Football League Trophy.

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Covid rate surges in Harrogate district as jab clinics open for children

The covid rate increased significantly in the Harrogate district today in another sign that the Omicron variant is beginning to have an impact.

The seven-day rate leapt from 419 per 100,000 people to 476. It was 383 two days ago. It comes after another 144 daily infections were reported by NHS England.

The rate remains considerably lower than the England average of 783 but slightly above the North Yorkshire average of 444.

Harrogate West and Pannal Ash, which has had 57 confirmed cases in the last seven days, is the district’s current covid hotspot.

A total of 91,569 people in the district have received either booster or third doses of the covid vaccine.

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The Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate will accept walk-in patients and booked patients for booster jabs tomorrow this week.

Children aged 12 to 17 will also be able to turn-up for walk-in boosters at the showground from 1.30pm to 4.30pm tomorrow and from 9am to 12.30pm on Tuesday.

Ripon racecourse, which was not open today. is due to administer more jabs tomorrow.

Harrogate district covid rate jumps for first time since Omicron

The seven-day covid rate of infection in the Harrogate district has increased from 383 per 100,000 to 419 in the first significant increase since Omicron.

A further 158 cases were reported in today’s government figures.

Until today, the district had not appeared to have been affected by the rapid increase in infections that have hit other parts of the county.

Across the county, the average stands at 426 and the England rate has soared to 723.

Today’s figures also reveal more than 85,000 booster and third vaccines have been administered in the district.

UK Health Security Agency figures show that a total of 85,929 booster and third vaccines have been given so far.

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No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

Latest available figures show eight covid patients are being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.

Harrogate hotel suffers £100,000 cancellations due to Omicron

A Harrogate hospitality business has claimed the government has thrown the industry “under the bus” since the Omicron variant hit the country.

Peter Banks, managing director of Rudding Park Hotel and Spa, said his business had seen £100,000 worth of cancellations due to covid recently.

He blamed mixed messaging from government and called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to offer more support to hospitality businesses.

Mr Banks told the Stray Ferret:

“The government’s lack of clarity has thrown the hospitality industry under the bus.

“They need to make a decision. They either come out with a clear message, go out or do not go out.

“I’m lucky that I have a wide enough base of business to draw upon, but there will be businesses that will struggle.”

Mr Banks added that most of his cancellations were corporate clients worried about the possibility of spreading covid among their employees.

He echoed calls from other hospitality firms across the country, which have urged Mr Sunak to offer more support, such as an extension to the VAT cut and business rates relief, to help the industry.

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Mr Banks said hospitality firms, especially those in city and town centres, “could do with some assistance”.

Sara Ferguson, chair of Harrogate Business Improvement District and owner of two local restaurants, said cancellation of Christmas parties was having a financial impact on Harrogate’s key hospitality sector.

She said:

“As soon the Prime Minister announced wearing masks in shops and on public transport was mandatory, hospitality industry trade began dropping away. And this was made worse with the work from home message.

“Christmas parties being cancelled at short notice is proving a financial nightmare, particularly as venues will have already ordered in the food and drink, and there’s no one taking these places.

“December is usually boom time for the hospitality trade, and many businesses rely on the takings from this month to see them through the quieter months of January and February.

“Sadly, for many this won’t be the case this year, and I fear that a number of businesses will be forced to close their doors come the new year.”

Ms Ferguson, who owns Sasso and Caffe Marconi, agreed that the industry needed support from Mr Sunak. She said:

“While there is no official lockdown yet, the message from politicians has resulted in the public shutting themselves away, and as a result there definitely needs to be some sort of financial support offered to the hospitality industry.”

David Simister, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said:

“Walking through town this lunchtime there were plenty of empty tables in pubs, bard and restaurants.

“Within hours of the Prime Minister announcing we all had to wear facemasks in shops and on buses and trains, businesses started cancelling their staff Christmas parties at hotels. And that is continuing at a pace.

“However, it’s not just the venues themselves who have lost vital revenue from food and drink sales, it’s the suppliers and staff who are out of pocket too.

“And come January, when ‘bounce back’ loans start to be repaid, I think we could see a lot of businesses in real trouble.

“The health of the economy is in a critical condition, and there needs to be some form of emergency financial aid for these businesses who are suffering through to no fault of their own.”

Chancellor urged to support hospitality

Yesterday, the chancellor cut short a trip to California after holding talks with hospitality firms via video link.

Mr Sunak has been under growing pressure to come up with support for hospitality as record covid numbers hammer takings.

Previous support offered to businesses, such as furlough, has already ended, while a 12.5% VAT cut is set to finish in March.

UK Hospitality, which represents firms across the country, has also called for business rates in the first quarter of 2022 to be deferred.

The government has not placed any restrictions on hospitality firms amid rising covid cases. However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people on Wednesday to “think carefully” before socialising.

Harrogate district covid rate stable as UK reports record cases

The Harrogate district’s covid rate remains stable on a day that saw a record number of Omicron infections reported nationally.

A total of 119 positive cases were reported in the district in today’s government figures.

Across the UK, 93,045 infections were reported — the most since the pandemic began.

The district’s seven-day rate currently stands at 383 per 100,000 people. The rate is now lower than both the county and England rates of 390 and 651.

The figures suggest the Omicron variant has yet to take hold in the Harrogate district.

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UK Health Security Agency data shows that the percentage uptake for booster vaccines in the Harrogate district for those aged 12 and over currently stands at 55%.

A total of 85,929 booster and third vaccines have been administered in the Harrogate district as of today.

Across the district, 2,076 booster jabs were given yesterday, as the vaccination programme is accelerated.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

Latest available figures show eight covid patients are being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.

More than half take-up booster jab in Harrogate district

More than half of those eligible for a booster jab in the Harrogate district have had a vaccine, according to latest government figures.

UK Health Security Agency data shows that the percentage uptake for those aged 12 and over currently stands at 54%.

A total of 83,790 booster and third vaccines have been administered in the Harrogate district as of today.

Across the district, 2,327 booster jabs were given yesterday, as the vaccination programme is accelerated.

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Meanwhile, the Harrogate district has reported a further 137 covid cases, according to today’s government figures.

The Harrogate district’s covid rate has fallen to 377 infections per 100,000 people.

Across the county, the average stands at 372 and the England rate is 553.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

Latest available figures show eight covid patients are being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.

Harrogate district booster vaccines take-up reaches 80,000

More than 80,000 booster and third vaccines have been administered in the Harrogate district, according to the latest government figures.

Across the district, 2,380 booster jabs were given yesterday, as the vaccination programme is accelerated.

Today, staff at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground confirmed it has expanded its capacity to 2,000 jabs a day.

UK Health Security Agency figures show that a total of 81,463 booster and third vaccines have been given in the district so far.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate district has reported a further 87 covid cases, according to today’s government figures.

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The Harrogate district’s covid rate has fallen to 378 infections per 100,000 people.

Across the county, the average stands at 368 and the England rate is 536.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

Latest available figures show nine covid patients are being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.