Ninety-eight new covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district today, but hospitalisations remain low.

Latest figures from Public Health England show the total number of infections since last March has increased to 8,545.

But the number of patients being treated for covid in Harrogate District Hospital is just three.

No covid-related deaths have been reported at the hospital since April 11, according to NHS England statistics.

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

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 175 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire rate is 159 and the England average is 173.

Another 75 covid infections have been recorded in the Harrogate district in the past 24 hours, according to Public Health England.

It is almost double yesterday’s figure of 42 and is the highest daily figure since January 13, when there were 86 infections.

However, separate figures released today by NHS England show the spike in infections is not leading to an increase in hospitalisations. There are currently two covid patients at Harrogate District Hospital – down from three last week, which suggests the vaccination programme is working.

The Harrogate district data reflects the national picture where cases have risen by almost 70% in a week but deaths have increased by just 11% and hospitalisations by 6%.

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The current seven-day rate of infection in the district is 173, slightly above the England rate of 172.

There have been no further covid-related deaths at Harrogate District Hospital. It means the death toll remains at 179.

The number of covid patients at Harrogate District Hospital has fallen to two, despite a sharp rise in infections in the district.

In a sign that the vaccination programme is working, Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group told North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum today there are now fewer covid patients at the hospital than last week, when there were three.

The number of cases of the Delta variant in the Harrogate district has nearly quadrupled in the last two weeks. The district’s seven-day rate of infection is now 155 per 100,000, just below the England average of 159.

Despite the steep rise, the hospital has not faced the same pressures as in previous waves. At the peak in February, there were 68 covid patients at Harrogate hospital.

According to the latest NHS England figures, the hospital’s last covid-related death was reported on April 11.

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Ms Bloor also said today that Ripon racecourse vaccination site, which opened in February, is due to close in August.

The closure of the Great Yorkshire Showground vaccination centre in Harrogate this month has seen many people travel to Leeds, York or Bradford for jabs, although there are pharmacy sites in Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge.

Ms Bloor said pop-up vaccination sites could open in the district this year.

She said:

“We want to be able to flex the programme as sites and vaccines allow.”

The number of cases of the Delta variant in the Harrogate district has nearly quadrupled in the last two weeks.

According to latest Public Health England figures, 233 people tested positive for the variant in the week to June 23.

The figure is almost four times as high as it was in the week to June 9, when 61 confirmed cases were recorded.

Health managers first reported a “small number” of cases of the Delta variant were confirmed in North Yorkshire last month.

Weekly cases of the Delta variant in Harrogate district. Graph: the Stray Ferret. Data: Public Health England.

However, despite a surge in infections in recent weeks, just three people are currently being treated at Harrogate District Hospital for covid, according to the latest government data.

Daily cases of covid in the Harrogate district have reach double figures throughout June.

The graph below highlights how since the relaxation of lockdown measures on May 17 daily infections have increased. But over the same period the number of people in hospital with covid has remained low.

Additionally, no covid-related deaths have been recorded at Harrogate District Hospital since April 11, according to NHS England data.

This suggests the vaccination programme is keeping people alive and out of hospital.

A total of 211,352 vaccinations have been given across the Harrogate district. Of those, 115,764 were first doses and 95,588 were second doses.

Daily new infections of covid (blue line) and number of patients (green line) in Harrogate District Hospital since May 17. Graph: the Stray Ferret. Data: Public Health England.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day covid rate of infection has risen to 151 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 134 and the England rate is 147.

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There are still no firm dates for the re-opening of Knaresborough Pool and Starbeck Baths.

Lockdown restrictions eased to permit swimming pools to re-open on April 12. However, 11 weeks on neither council-run pool has reopened since.

A problem with the pool filters at Knaresborough forced it to remain closed.

The manufacturer, based in Spain, was unable to send engineers to fix the equipment due to covid travel bans.

Harrogate Borough Council eventually decided to replace the filters, rather than delay the opening further, at a cost of £27,000.

In its latest monthly newsletter to residents, the council said Knaresborough Pool was “set to open in July ahead of the school summer holidays” although no precise date was given.

The council recently advertised for a new duty manager at the pool as well as new lifeguards.

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Meanwhile, there has been no update on when Starbeck Baths will reopen.

The council previously said the baths would open “shortly” after Ripon Spa Baths. The Ripon pool reopened in May and there has been no update on Starbeck since.

The Stray Ferret understands staffing may be an issue at Starbeck as a number of employees have either left or been seconded to new roles.

The Harrogate district today recorded its highest daily number of covid infections since January.

According to the latest Public Health England figures, there were 57 new cases of covid.

The number is the highest daily figure since January 19 when 63 infections were reported.

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However, no covid-related deaths have been recorded at Harrogate District Hospital since April 11, according to NHS England data.

The hospital currently only has three covid patients, compared with 68 at the peak of the second wave in February.

Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 151 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 134 and the England rate stands at 147.

Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground vaccination site administered more than 117,000 vaccines in its six months of operation, the Stray Ferret can reveal.

The centre gave its final jab on June 19.

Doctors involved in setting up the site have said they are “immensely proud” of what it achieved.

Dr Cath Dixon, Yorkshire Health Network Director and GP at Knaresborough’s Stockwell Road Surgery, told the Stray Ferret that it was a “privilege” to be part of the vaccination programme.

She said:

“It was a real privilege. 

“I was one of the doctors working there in December when it opened and it was a privilege to work with those patients who had been hibernating for so long.

“The emotions ran high that day.”

Dr Dixon said the site was a “great challenge” to set up, but that GPs achieved what they set out to do and vaccinate the vulnerable.

She added that the site would not have been able to do that without the many volunteers and marshals who kept the centre running on a daily basis.

Six months of vaccinations

In total, the Great Yorkshire Showground site carried out 117,371 vaccines in the six months it was open.

A total of 17 GP practices came together to help open the site, which administered its first jab on December 22, and 450 people have worked on the vaccination programme.

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Practitioners settled on the showground because of its size and the need to keep batches of the Pfizer vaccine refrigerated on site.

At full capacity, the centre could give up to 1,800 vaccines a day and reached its 100,000th jab in April.

Dr Chris Preece, a GP partner in Boroughbridge and Knaresborough who helped to draw up the site plans

Dr Chris Preece, clinical director of the Knaresborough and Rural Primary Care Network, one of the GPs who helped set up the centre, said:

“We are proud to have been part of the largest NHS vaccination programme in history, but it’s clear that this would not have been possible without the help of our many partners.

“In particular, we are grateful for the use of both the YEC and Ripon Racecourse sites, and to their teams who helped to both establish the sites and to keep them functioning.”

He added:

“It would have been impossible to achieve what we’ve achieved without the tireless assistance of our volunteers, provided by a raft of extraordinary voluntary sector organisations across the Harrogate and rural area – as well as our own staff, both those who have combined duties with their ongoing work at GP surgeries and those who came out of retirement in order to make this happen.”

Vaccinations will still carry on at Ripon Racecourse, Pateley Bridge and Knaresborough pharmacies.

The Ripon site has so far given 24,218 vaccines and is set to continue offering appointments for second doses.

Other large-scale vaccination sites, such as Elland Road stadium in Leeds and Askham Bar in York, will also be available to Harrogate residents who have yet to have the vaccine.

Anyone aged over the age of 18 can now book a vaccination through the NHS National Booking Service website, or by calling 119.

Thirty-four more covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district.

According to Public Health England figures, it takes the total number of infections since last March to 8,204.

The district’s seven-day covid rate currently stands at 103 case per 100,000 people.

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Elsewhere, the North Yorkshire rate is 93 and the England average is 112.

However, no covid-related deaths have been confirmed at Harrogate District Hospital since April 11.

The death toll at the hospital since the pandemic started remains at 179.

The first events in over a year at Harrogate Convention Centre will have no social distancing after being selected for a government pilot.

Organisers of The Home and Gift Buyers’ Festival and the Manchester Furniture Show 2021 confirmed the news after discussions with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Restrictions on the number of visitors will be lifted and social distancing requirements scrapped at the events, which are being held from July 18 to July 21.

However, visitors will be required to show proof of two vaccinations at least two weeks prior to attending or a negative NHS lateral flow test at least 48 hours before the event.

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The event comes as part of a limited number of pilots being held in the third phase of the government’s Events Research Programme, which examines the risk of covid transmission at events

Russell Rule, director of The Home and Gift Buyers’ Festival , said:

“With the backing of the government, public health bodies, and our key customers we can see that the appetite and enthusiasm are there for an in-person buying and selling event. 

“There is great excitement from both exhibitors and visitors to reconnect in Harrogate to celebrate our 60th anniversary.”

The convention centre is still waiting to get back to normality following the delay in lifting the final covid restrictions.

The pilot will be used to gather data and research how small and large scale events could be permitted in line with the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Nigel Huddleston, tourism minister, said the business and events industry was worth around £40 billion annually to the UK economy and he was delighted the events would be held at full capacity. He added:

“This will continue to trial the use of the NHS app as a means to show you’re covid safe.”

The Harrogate district today recorded another daily high of covid cases, as 38 infections were reported.

According to Public Health England figures, the number takes the total cases since last March to 8,131.

The figure is the highest since February 1, when 51 cases were recorded.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

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NHS England figures show the last death was reported in April and the total number of covid-related deaths since the start of the pandemic remains at 179.

Harrogate hospital is currently treating three covid patients, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 96 cases per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 86 and the England rate stands at 105.