Harrogate district covid rate hits six-month low

The Harrogate district seven-day covid rate has fallen below 50 infections per 100,000 people.

The average now stands at 46 and has fallen below 50 for the first time since September last year.

The overall rate for North Yorkshire is 41 and the England rate is 60.

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Just eight cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district today by Public Health England.

It takes the total number of infections in the district since last March to 7,384.

No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

North Yorkshire care homes prepare for ‘cautious’ return to visiting

A “cautious and vigilant” approach will be used to ensure indoor care home visits can take place across the Harrogate district from tomorrow.

North Yorkshire County Council has written to all care providers to emphasise the importance of allowing visits, but adapting guidance to suit each setting.

Under government guidance, each care home resident can have a nominated visitor, and the county council is encouraging care homes to make the visits “meaningful” – at least 30 minutes. Trips outside with relatives should be particularly supported, the letter said.

Richard Webb, NYCC’s director for health and adult services, said:

 “We must be cautious to keep everyone safe because past experience shows that the easing of restrictions can also lead to an increase in cases. We are still under national restrictions and so we need to be cautious and to avoid becoming complacent.

“The national covid-19 vaccination roll-out is also great news and the number of people who have received a vaccine so far is very encouraging.

“However, the vaccine’s main purpose is to prevent or reduce risk of death and serious illness. People who have been vaccinated can still catch or transmit Covid-19. New variants of Covid-19 may also be resistant to the vaccine and present new risks so we need to remain careful and vigilant.

“Everyone will need to co-operate to make indoor visiting a success. All visits will need to be planned and residents, families and friends are asked to be mindful that everyone will want their ‘fair turn’ for visits. This may initially limit the numbers of visits that are possible.”

Designated visitors will need to wear PPE and follow each home’s individual rules for safe visiting. Areas should be set aside with good ventilation and limiting the need for walking through other areas of the building.

Guidance suggests visitors can hold hands with their relative, recognising the increased risk of transmission, but discourages other close contact such as hugging. Care homes will still be able to allow “essential care givers” to offer personal and other care in some situations, where a resident’s illness or needs make it better for them to be supported by a family member.

Visiting will be cancelled in care homes which have outbreaks of covid cases, but essential care givers should still be able to visit, along with those seeing relatives nearing the end of their lives.

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The council said its approach will continue to be guided by care home residents and their families as well as staff. Cllr Michael Harrison, executive member for adult services and health integration, said:

“We believe it is important that everyone who lives in a care setting should be able to see their loved ones and to take trips out into the community if they want to.

“Many providers have been working to support safe visits and this will step up a gear as indoor visits are allowed. Our job is to work with providers and give all the support we can to make sure this can be done safely to avoid any resurgence in Covid-19 infections.

“As before the lockdown, any arrangements for visits and trips must be consistent with national and local Covid-19 rules so that people are as safe as possible.”

Three more covid deaths at Harrogate hospital

Three more patients who tested positive for covid have died at Harrogate District Hospital.

The deaths were reported on March 3, according to NHS England figures.

It takes the death toll at the hospital since the start of the pandemic to 165.

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Currently, 48 patients who tested positive for covid are being treated in Harrogate hospital according to latest Public Health England data.

A further 12 covid cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to today’s Public Health England figures.

it takes the total number of cases since last March to 7,354.

Meanwhile, 58,293 people have had the first dose of a covid vaccine in the Harrogate district.

NHS England has started to publish local data with a breakdown of vaccination figures by area and age.

Masham Steam Rally postponed due to covid

This year’s Masham Steam Engine and Fair Organ Rally has been postponed due to covid.

The event was not due to take place until July 17 and 18, after lockdown restrictions were lifted.

But the organisers said there were “still too many uncertainties to proceed”.

The two-day event, which raises money for Masham Town Hall, is one of the highlights of the summer not only in Masham but the wider Harrogate district. It attracts 4,000 to 6,000 visitors.

This will be the second year running that covid has forced its cancellation.

A statement by the rally committee and trustees of Masham Town Hall said:

“This has been a very difficult decision to make, especially as the next rally to take place will be the 55th anniversary event.

“However, as our planning for the 2021 event has now reached a critical stage and notwithstanding that the dates announced by the government are not set in stone, there is still a lack of detailed health and safety guidance and information on what restrictions will be in place for public outdoor events of the scale of the rally.”

The statement adds rally finances are in “a very strong position” and to commit to spending on an event that might not take place would be “foolhardy and not within keeping with charitable financial governance”.

https://twitter.com/VisitMasham/status/1367486013581516818

The next rally is now due to be staged on August 16 and 17 2022.

The rally committee is looking for “innovative ways to celebrate and focus on out fabulous industrial, agricultural and food heritage” on the weekend when this year’s event was due to take place, and has appealed for suggestions.

Masham Sheep Fair is still due to go ahead on September 25 and 26.

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Help for businesses to support staff through covid challenges

The well-being of employees at businesses across the Harrogate district will be under the spotlight next week.

A meeting is being held to help businesses understand how they can support staff, both working remotely and in person, as the coronavirus crisis continues.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the event, with four speakers giving their advice. Among them is Emily Snaith, HR advisor for the 200-strong workforce at CNG, who will explain the measures taken by the company in the last year to look after its employees.

She will be joined by Laura Brett, head of fundraising and promotion at Starbeck-based Wellspring, who will look at the impact of poor mental health on a workplace, as well as outlining the work done by the charity to support local businesses.

Also speaking are Steve Ellis from Prosperis Ltd, focusing on returning SME employees to full productivity, and Phil Holdsworth of AurumGold, looking at the impact of financial stress and how employers can support their staff with money worries.

Sandra Doherty, CEO of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said:

“With the covid pandemic propelling mental health and employee wellbeing to the fore, this meeting is a must for all employers, and will provide plenty of useful and practical advice from four local experts.”

The meeting takes place on Monday, March 8 at 6pm and is open to any local businesses to attend. For more information or to book a place, visit the chamber’s website.

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Harrogate covid testing site to become rapid test collection point

School pupils and staff in Harrogate will be able to collect rapid covid tests at the town’s testing centre from next week.

The Dragon Road site will become a collection point in the afternoon as part of a government plan to expand access to local community testing.

It comes as secondary school children will be tested using lateral flow tests twice a week from March 8.

The site will operate as a collection point for lateral flow kits from 1.30pm until 7pm.

Households with primary school, secondary school or college aged children, which includes childcare and support bubbles, will be able to use the site to collect rapid test kits.

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Primary school, secondary school and college staff will also be able to use the facility.

The site will still carry out symptomatic testing as normal in a morning until 12pm.

Dr Victoria Turner, public health consultant at North Yorkshire County Council, told a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, a partnership of emergency agencies, that it should not affect symptomatic testing.

She said:

“We have discussed in recent weeks that we have had plenty of spare capacity at local test sites, so this should not impact peoples’ ability to access symptomatic testing should they need it.”

Dr Turner added that she expects that more collection sites will be created nationally by the end of March.

Meanwhile, Harrogate District Hospital has reported another death from a patient who tested positive for covid.

According to NHS England figures, the patient died on March 2. It takes the death toll at the hospital since the start of the pandemic to 162.

Matt Hancock praises Harrogate’s rapid vaccine response

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has praised the speed of the covid vaccination rollout in the Harrogate district.

Responding to a question in the House of Commons yesterday from Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, Mr Hancock said health staff in the district had done an “amazing job” delivering the vaccine.

He said it meant Harrogate had a higher number of residents vaccinated than the national average.

Mr Hancock said:

“May I put on the record my thanks to the team in Harrogate, who have done an amazing job vaccinating over 30,000 people — more than the national average, if my memory serves me correctly?

“I thank my honourable friend for his leadership in Harrogate and for supporting the team there to make this happen.”

Mr Jones had asked if the UK was on track to give everyone their second dose of the vaccine within 12 weeks of the first. Mr Hancock said it was.

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Data published last week by NHS England revealed that 48,000 people in the Harrogate district have now received one of the approved vaccines.

Harrogate, Ripon, and now Knaresborough, all have vaccination sites.

In an interview with the Stray Ferret, Dr Chris Preece, a GP partner in Boroughbridge and Knaresborough, said that Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground site was able to carry out up to 1,800 vaccinations a day.

Tockwith Show sends out SOS for volunteers

Tockwith Show has sent out an urgent SOS for volunteers to enable this year’s event to go ahead.

The show committee will vote on Wednesday next week on whether to go ahead with this year’s event in August, which would be the 75th show to be held.

Covid has already created uncertainty but there is the added risk of cancellation due to a shortage of helpers.

Allan Robinson, chairman of the committee, said:

“It’s likely that covid means there will be a need for even tighter controls on the day and at the moment we just don’t have enough people to guarantee that.

“We not only want new members on the committee, there are several areas of the show that need a steward to organise and supervise things and we also need people who are prepared to help in setting up the show and making sure it all runs smoothly on the day.”

Tockwith village is on the fringes of the Harrogate district, between Wetherby and York.

The annual show is a major part of civic life in the district and includes agricultural and horticultural competitions as well as arts and crafts and family fun.

it has been held annually every year since 1945, with two exceptions, including last year.

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Mr Robinson added:

“Tockwith Show reflects a huge part of the heritage of this region: farming is still a major part of our economy and our community, and it would be a real tragedy if we weren’t able to go ahead this year.

“But although it’s only held on one day there is inevitably a great deal of work that goes into the organisation to ensure it runs smoothly and safely.”

For further information on volunteering, call Mr Robinson on 01423 358 889 or contact him on email at allan.robinson2016@hotmail.com.

Harrogate district records fewest covid cases for six months

The Harrogate district has recorded its lowest daily number of covid infections for six months.

Today’s Public Health England figures reveal just seven new cases.

It’s the lowest figure since six infections were recorded on September 23.

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The number takes the total number of cases since March to 7,319.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 77 per 100,000 people. The North Yorkshire average stands at 58, while the England rate is 86.

No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

48,000 people have covid vaccine in Harrogate district

More than 48,000 people have had the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine in the Harrogate district.

NHS England has started to publish local data on the amount of people who have been vaccinated across the country.

According to the figures, 48,753 first doses have been given in the district so far.

The number includes:

It comes as a vaccination site is due to open in Knaresborough today at the town’s former Lidl supermarket.

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The Knaresborough site is run by Homecare Pharmacy Services, which is based in the town.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said this week that it was likely other community pharmacies could start offering the vaccine in North Yorkshire as the rollout filters down to everyone over the age of 18 by the end of July.

Ms Bloor added that the county is on track to achieve the government target of offering all over 50s the jab by April 15.

The new centre will mean the district will have vaccination sites in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough.

In an interview with the Stray Ferret, Dr Chris Preece, a GP partner in Boroughbridge and Knaresborough, said that the Great Yorkshire Showground site was able to carry out up to 1,800 vaccinations a day.