covid Archives - Page 27 of 51

Baby steps for Harrogate bars on Freedom Day

The sight of queues at the bar were nowhere to be seen at lunchtime in Harrogate today, despite the lifting of all remaining social distancing restrictions.

Drinkers have got used to table service over the past 12 months and it appears many pubs in the town centre have opted to keep the measure.

I took a walk around the town this afternoon to gauge the feeling as Harrogate experienced Freedom Day.

The atmosphere seemed to be one of caution, rather than cramming to get to the bar.

It felt as though many bar owners had one eye on the soaring covid rate, which is now almost at its highest ever.

In Wetherspoons, punters were allowed to go up to the bar but they also had the option to stay in their seat to order via a QR code.

However, screens are in place between tables to protect customers and hand sanitiser remains at the entrance, along with a queuing system.

Wetherspoons in Harrogate, which still had a queueing system outside and hand sanitiser on hand this afternoon.

The keeping of table service and hand sanitiser was replicated across bars in town.

North Bar on Cheltenham Parade, has gone one step further by encouraging customers on its Facebook page to wear masks while moving around the bar.

Similarly, bar staff are on hand at Threes’ A Crowd, West Park, to serve customers where they sit — though they are still welcome to order at the bar.

The feeling among some pubs owners in the town centre is probably best summed up by the Disappearing Chin, on Beulah Street.

On Sunday, the bar took down its screen which had covered the length of the bar since last year.

However, despite taking the decision to remove it as restrictions were lifted, a post on its Facebook said:

“It’s been so tough with all the restrictions and unfortunately it doesn’t feel good that they’re finally being lifted.

“We’re excited to get back to normal but we’re not pushing it.”

People urged to respect businesses’ wishes as face mask order dropped

A Harrogate business organisation has urged people to respect the choices of traders as the legal requirement to wear a face mask is dropped.

Businesses across the district have been left to advise customers on whether or not to wear a face covering.

It comes as today has been dubbed “Freedom Day” because the remaining restrictions, including one metre plus rule and reopening of all venues without restrictions on numbers, are lifted.

However, while the legal requirement to wear a face mask has been removed, businesses are still encouraging people to wear one.

Matthew Chapman, manager of Harrogate BID, said some firms were keen to minimise risk of staff having to self-isolate.

He said:

“This is very much a matter of choice for both businesses and customers. Whilst some will immediately discard social distancing and enforced mask wearing, others will take a more cautious approach.

“I know of a number of retail and hospitality businesses will retain the existing measures, as they are concerned about staff having to self-isolate and are keen to minimise this risk.

“We also politely ask that customers respect the wishes of individual businesses, and not to take any frustrations they may have out on staff members.”

North Bar, on Cheltenham Parade, is among the businesses encouraging customers to wear a face mask. It posted on its Facebook page that staff would be wearing face coverings and asked guests to do the same.

Elsewhere, Neil Mendoza, general manager at The Studley Hotel and Orchid Restaurant, told the Stray Ferret that staff would continue to wear face masks and social distance in the hotel and restaurant.

He added that he took the decision as he was worried about staff having to self isolate:

“I am particularly worried that it [covid] may hit one of my employees, which could affect business.

“For the safety of my team, we have made a decision to continue with wearing face masks from July 19 onwards for our staff and social distancing in our hotel and restaurant until we feel that it’s safe, as we are also concerned and aware that some of our guests would still want to feel safe when they come to visit.”

Meanwhile, Harrogate Bus Company has recommended that passengers continue to wear face masks on its services.

Alex Hornby, chief executive of the company, said:

“We want everyone to feel comfortable and confident every time they travel with us, and throughout the pandemic we have encouraged everyone to support us in helping to keep each other safe.

“With this in mind, we recommend that our customers continue to wear a face covering when travelling with us, especially at busy times, and just as they may choose to do in other busy places.

“A limited number of people have been legally exempt from wearing a face covering under the existing restrictions, and we ask everyone to remember that this may be why some customers will choose not to do so from Monday.”

Earlier this week, the Rail Delivery Group, the industry body that represents Northern and Transpennine services, said passengers should follow government guidance and wear a face covering if a carriage is busy.

LNER has said it will continue to ask customers to wear face coverings and to reserve a seat on its trains in order to avoid overcrowding.

Will you still be wearing a face mask even though restrictions have been lifted? Let us know at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Newcastle to send under-23 team to Harrogate tomorrow after covid outbreak

Newcastle United are to bring an under-23 team to Harrogate tomorrow rather than a first team squad due to covid.

The Premier League side announced the news this afternoon after goalkeeper Karl Darlow tested positive.

Although every other player and staff member within Newcastle’s first team group has returned negative tests, fellow goalkeepers Mark Gillespie and Freddie Woodman have gone into isolation for 10 days after being identified as close contacts.

Consequently Newcastle will send a first team to York tomorrow and an under-23 team to Harrogate to minimise mixing between the groups.

Magpies manager Steve Bruce said:

“I have spoken to Simon Weaver, who was very understanding, and I would like to apologise to any Harrogate supporters who have bought tickets thinking first team players were coming.

“Ultimately, we have to follow the advice from medical professionals and take proactive steps to protect players and we simply can’t mix up the dressing rooms, which was our initial plan.”

The first ever match between Harrogate and the six-times FA Cup winners was the pick of Town’s pre-season friendlies.

Kick off is at 2pm tomorrow at the EnviroVent Stadium on Wetherby Road.

Leading Harrogate’s biggest school during covid

Neil Renton, the headteacher at Harrogate Grammar School, was in Marks & Spencer in Leeds on his wedding anniversary one weekend recently when his phone rang.

He was told a student on a coach trip to Flamingo Land had tested positive for covid and a decision had to be made on which children should isolate the next day.

He called Dr Dora Machaira, a health improvement officer in North Yorkshire County Council‘s public health team, who has been the go-to woman for schools needing advice on covid, and, after numerous calls, made the necessary arrangements.

The episode sums up what life has been like running a school during the last 16 months. Face masks, lateral flow tests, bubbles, test and trace and isolate have become as much a part of the lexicon of education as maths, English and science.

The lowest point came just before Christmas: the second wave was taking off and the school received news of more infections, which meant closing an entire year group. Mr Renton recalls:

“On a Sunday night I was wondering ‘how are we going to tell 290 students that they are not coming in tomorrow?’ There’s nothing more painful than having to go to parents and say, ‘your child will have to isolate’.”

At the same time Kirsty Moat, the associate headteacher who Mr Renton describes as “my co-pilot”, tested positive and about 50 other staff, some of whom were badly affected by the disease, were also absent.

Attendance fell to 47 per cent

Mr Renton thinks about the current academic year in covid phases rather than terms.

During phase one, in September and October, case numbers were low.

“There was a feeling of confidence that we had reopened and things were back to normal.”

November to January was the second and most difficult phase. At one point pupil attendance fell to 47 per cent as more and more children isolated. All of years 11 and 13, which have about 300 students each, were closed at some points.

The January lockdown that followed, which was the third phase, was almost a relief because the school had learned from previous remote learning and felt confident it could cope, especially as every student has an iPad.

The return-to-school fourth phase in March was relatively smooth, with low case numbers. But the fifth phase since half-term has been almost as tough as pre-Christmas. He says:

“We haven’t had any year group closures in the latest phase but today we have 159 students isolating.”

‘Pushed to the limit’

Mr Renton is fulsome in his praise for North Yorkshire County Council’s public health team; but less so for the Department for Education, which he says has “pushed headteachers to the limits” with last minute, complex guidance and U-turns.

“We hear the PM announce something then guidance comes out two days later.”

Harrogate Grammar, which is one of 13 schools in north and west Yorkshire belonging to Red Kite Learning Trust, is one of the largest schools in the north of England with 2,018 pupils.

Its size means it has been better able to assimilate the financial cost of covid than some smaller schools. It has employed extra cleaners, had to cover for absent teachers and even put up a marquee to improve social distancing.

The remarkable generation

Throughout it all not one child has been seriously ill. Mr Renton mentions several times during the interview how selfless and mature pupils have been in responding to a pandemic that doesn’t predominantly affect their generation.

“We should call them the remarkable generation, not the covid generation.”

He acknowledges, however, there is a “growing sense of frustration” among young people at the sacrifices they’re making, especially when they watch packed crowds at football matches.

Terms ends on Friday and, with covid infections rocketing, he admits the school is “limping” towards the finishing line.

He’s looking forward to a week away during the six-week holiday and, hopefully, a quieter 2021/22 school year when the NHS will assume responsibility from the school for pupil test and trace.

Mr Renton, who hasn’t had covid although his son in year 10 at the school had to isolate for 10 days, started as headteacher in September 2019 in what now seems like a golden bygone pre-covid era.

He chuckles at the memory of an early planning meeting to discuss arrangements for the Tour de Yorkshire.

“Now we look back at that time and laugh because every week we are dealing with much bigger and more complex logistical problems.

“My first two years of being a headteacher has been a crash course in leading through crisis and changing circumstances.”

Harrogate district covid rate at highest since January

The Harrogate district’s covid rate is at its highest since January, according to latest figures.

The district’s seven-day average currently stands at 422 cases per 100,000 people – the highest it has been since January 10.

Elsewhere, the North Yorkshire rate is 421 and the England average stands at 396.

Meanwhile, another 100 cases of covid have been reported in the Harrogate district.

However, no covid-related deaths have been recorded at Harrogate District Hospital in more than three months and the hospital is only treating five patients with the virus.

A total of 221,648 vaccinations have been given in the district, according to Public Health England statistics.

The number includes 121,150 people receiving a first dose and 100,498 second doses.

‘We’re very worried’: Harrogate hospitality concerned by staffing isolation

Hospitality bosses in Harrogate have said they are worried after staff are being forced to self-isolate due to rising covid cases.

Increasing covid rates in the district and across the country have seen thousands of people pinged by the NHS Test and Trace app just days before remaining lockdown measures are lifted.

Currently, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 416 cases per 100,000 people and infections have soared with 127 reported yesterday – the highest since January 11.

In Harrogate, hotels and restaurants have had to either close temporarily or offer a limited service as a result of staff being told to self-isolate.

Neil Mendoza, general manager at The Studley Hotel and Orchid Restaurant, told the Stray Ferret that the current situation made it “twice as hard” to operate.

He said:

“It is indeed a difficult time for our industry as with others. On top of current staffing shortage, this self-isolating and quarantining make it even twice as hard for us to operate.

“We are very worried with the current situation of cases going high and I am personally concerned that it might be a repeat of August 2020 when the government encouraged everyone to eat out.”

Mr Mendoza added that staff would continue to wear face masks and social distance in the hotel and restaurant after July 19 when restrictions are lifted.

Across England, 520,194 alerts were sent to NHS Covid-19 app users up to July 7 telling them they had been in close contact with someone who had tested positive for coronavirus and to self-isolate.

But, the rules on 10-day self-isolation for those who have received two jabs and people aged under 18 will not end until August 16.

Meanwhile, William and Victoria Restaurant in Harrogate has had to close temporarily due to staff being told to self-isolate.

Some of our team have been instructed to self isolate after coming into contact with a positive Covid-19 case. Rather than take unnecessary risk and continue without a full operational team, we have made the decision to close for a few days.

— William & Victoria (@Will_and_Vics) July 15, 2021

In a post on its social media yesterday, the restaurant said it did not want to “take unnecessary risk and continue without a full operational team”.

Instead, it will reopen on Tuesday July 20.

Elsewhere in the town, Baltzersen’s cafe on Oxford Street posted on Facebook and Twitter that it would be operating a limited service due to staff being forced to self-isolate.

WE'RE SORRY
One of our team has had a positive lateral flow test and so much of the team need to isolate.

WE ARE STILL OPEN with limited service (Paul has dusted off his apron!) & outside only, serving from the coffee shop window.

Please bear with us – safety of all is priority pic.twitter.com/jHJnMQQkZw

— Baltzersen's (@Baltzersens) July 16, 2021

Another 127 covid cases in Harrogate district — but no more deaths

Another 127 cases of covid have been reported in the Harrogate district.

However, no covid-related deaths have been recorded at Harrogate District Hospital in more than three months and the hospital is only treating five patients with the virus.

The district’s seven-day covid rate now stands at 416 cases per 100,000. The North Yorkshire average is 394 and the England rate is 376.

A total of 219,997. vaccinations have been given in the district, according to Public Health England statistics.

The number includes 121,112 people receiving a first dose and 98,865 second doses.

Harrogate hospital covid patients increase as infections soar

The number of covid patients in Harrogate District Hospital has increased, as case numbers reach their highest levels since January.

A covid press briefing today heard there are now 80 covid patients in hospitals in North Yorkshire, up from 47 seven days ago.

In Harrogate, the number of patients being treated stands at five, compared with two last week.

North Yorkshire’s seven-day infection rate is now 355 per 100,000 people and there have been more than 2,000 new infections since this time last week. The figure for the Harrogate district is even higher at 410.

Amanda Bloor, NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s accountable officer, told a meeting of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum today that hospital numbers had not reached the levels of previous waves.

She said:

“The last time that the infection rate across North Yorkshire and York was at 300 per 100,000 population, and it is slightly higher than that now, was back in late January and at that point there were over 400 patients in hospital beds across North Yorkshire.

“So whilst we can see that the numbers are increasing they are not at the height of the numbers that they were back in January when the vaccine program was at its very early stage.”

Ms Bloor said those being admitted to hospital in North Yorkshire tended to be younger than in previous waves and were mainly among those who had not yet taken up the offer of a vaccine.

She said the vaccine was making a difference to the numbers of people being admitted to hospital but warned that people should continue to be careful when restrictions are lifted on Monday.

Mrs Bloor said:

“Whilst the rules are changing as we move towards next Monday we all still have the power to ensure that the behaviours that we exhibit help prevent the spread of infections, to help stop other people becoming infected and help protect yourself and your families and I would encourage everyone to make responsible choices as we emerge from the final stage of lockdown next week.”

At the same meeting Louise Wallace, North Yorkshire’s director of public health, said that the rise in the number of covid cases tended to be concentrated in those under the age of 35 but that they were now starting to see increases in older people also.

She encouraged people to continue to keep taking precautions even after restrictions are lifted.

Ms Wallace said:

“We are going to take the next step to stage four on the roadmap and it is about living with covid and I urge people to think of the combination of things that we can all do to protect ourselves, our friends, our families and communities.

“Whilst it is now the summer and we are enjoying meeting up and doing things that we could not do a few months ago there are things that we should all do to respect and protect each other.

“This includes meeting in well ventilated areas, where possible outdoors or with windows open if we are indoors.

“Wear face coverings when you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet or in an enclosed or crowded space.”

Walk-in vaccine clinics in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge this weekend

Walk-in covid vaccination clinics with no bookings required will take place this weekend in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge.

On Saturday, people will be able to get their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Wesley Centre, opposite McDonald’s in Harrogate, from 10am to 4pm.

The Memorial Hall in Pateley Bridge, which is run by Pateley Bridge Pharmacy, will be offering first and second doses of Pfizer from 8am to 5.30pm.

The Memorial Hall in Pateley Bridge

Homecare Pharmacy Services will be administrating first doses of the Moderna vaccine on Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 5pm at the former Lidl supermarket in Knaresborough.

Homecare Pharmacy Services’ vaccination site.

Sue Peckitt, chief nurse at NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said:

“These walk-in clinics are aimed at those people who have not taken up the opportunity to book their vaccine via the NHS national booking service or NHS 119.

“With many covid restrictions set to be lifted on July 19, it’s important we create a strong vaccine wall of resistance to help keep coronavirus transmission rates as low as possible, protect those who are most susceptible to suffering serious illness and reduce the impact on hospitals and other healthcare settings.”

Covid vaccine uptake in England has almost halved over the past fortnight, particularly among the under 30s.

In the Harrogate district, the latest figures show 118,142 people have had first doses and 97,104 have had second vaccines.

It means a total of 215,246 vaccinations have been given so far.

Public Health England statistics show the district currently has a first dose uptake of 83%, while the second dose rate is 68%.

No covid deaths at Harrogate hospital for three months

No covid-related deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital for three months.

According to NHS England figures, the last death from a patient who tested positive for covid was on April 11.

It means the death toll at the hospital since last March remains at 179.

Meanwhile, a further 98 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases in the district since last March to 9,516.

The district’s seven-day covid rate of infection has increased to 406 people per 100,000 — the highest in North Yorkshire.

The North Yorkshire average is 343 and the England rate is 323.

A total of 218,303 vaccinations have been given in the district, according to Public Health England statistics.

The number includes 120,348 people receiving a first dose and 97,955 second doses.

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Attendance fell to 47 per cent

‘Pushed to the limit’

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The remarkable generation

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