R number falls below 1 in the Harrogate district

The R number has fallen below one in the Harrogate district for the first time since the second wave of the pandemic took off.

The number has fallen to 0.9 — anything below one means the spread of the virus is declining.

Infection rates have fallen dramatically in the second half of November and are now lower than they were at the start of lockdown.

Public Health England confirmed another 36 infections in the district today.

However, leading public health figures suggested at a media briefing today of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, a partnership of agencies that tackles emergencies, the county could be put in tier two or even tier three tomorrow.

However, the national government will decide.

Such a move would devastate many pubs that do not serve substantial meals, as they would be unable to open.

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Today’s briefing also revealed Harrogate District Hospital currently has 31 covid patients, which is four more than last week.

North Yorkshire as a whole has 272 covid patients. There were 302 at the peak of the first wave of the pandemic in spring.

No deaths were reported at Harrogate District Hospital today. However, there were four in the previous three days, bringing the total to 98.

A total of 54 care homes in the county currently have covid outbreaks.

Pupil attendance in schools is 87 per cent.

Central Harrogate has had the most positive cases in the Harrogate district in the last seven days, with 23.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Pateley Bridge and Nidd Valley has had none.

Harrogate Hospital reports another coronavirus death

Harrogate District Hospital has announced another death from a patient who tested positive for coronavirus.

According to NHS England figures, it takes the total number of deaths at the hospital to 88.

Meanwhile, a further 68 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed across the Harrogate district today.

This daily increase comes a day after Boris Johnson announced the country would go into a second national lockdown from Thursday, November 5.

Today’s figures take the total number of cases in the district since the start of the pandemic to 2,439.

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The lockdown means all non-essential shops, hospitality and beauty salons will once again have to close until December 2.

In his announcement yesterday evening the Prime Minister said he hoped these restrictions would curb the infection rate to allow people to see their families in time for Christmas.

The Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) warned that the impact of this second lockdown could mean some businesses “won’t reopen”.

Number of organ donations at Harrogate hospital falls

The number of people who donated organs after they died at Harrogate District Hospital fell from six in 2018/19 to four in 2019/20.

The figures were included in the NHS’ annual Transplant Activity Report and show that those who died donated eight kidneys, three livers and one pancreas to the hospital.

Organ donation law changed in May this year to an “opt out” system.

This means that if you are not in an excluded group, and have not confirmed whether you want to be an organ donor – it will be considered that you agree to donate your organs when you die.

Nationally 1,580 people donated at least one organ after they died, a fall of 1% from last year, which the NHS attributed to the coronavirus pandemic.

Across the UK, the number of people whose lives have been improved or saved by organ and tissue donation this year is 3,760.

There are currently 3,108 people in the UK awaiting an organ transplant.

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To coincide with the release of the report, staff at Harrogate District Hospital have shared their own organ donation experiences and encouraged family members to talk to each other about donating organs.

Sarah Whitton, project manager for the programme management office and digital delivery team at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT), lost her younger brother in 2017.

She said:

“Gavin was one of the kindest people I know, so it seemed fitting that his final act of kindness after a tragic accident was to improve, if not save, the lives of five others.

“He had shared his organ donation wishes with his wife which made the family decision so much easier. Losing him has been life changing for our family but we take great comfort in knowing that he lives on in others.”

Beverley Harrison, complementary therapies co-ordinator at HDFT, received an organ donation in 2012 when her liver deteriorated due to auto-immune hepatitis.

After being told she had days to live, the donation saved her life.

She said:

“When it comes down to it and you have 48 hours left to live, you have to hope that people have already had that conversation with their relatives. It can happen to anyone, so it is vital we all have these conversations now.”