Harrogate district reports another 73 covid cases

The Harrogate district has reported a further 73 covid cases, according to Public Health England figures.

However, no covid-related deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital in more than three months.

NHS England figures show that the covid death toll at the hospital since March 2020 remains at 179.

Meanwhile, the number of covid patients in North Yorkshire hospitals has increased by 40 per cent in the past week — but just three are in Harrogate.

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Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate has fallen.

The district’s average currently stands at 508 cases per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire rate is 567 and the England average is 528.

So far, 122,287 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 102,539 have had a second dose.

Harrogate district cat owners ‘heartbroken’ after deaths linked to food

Two cat owners from the Harrogate district have spoken of their heartbreak after their pets ate food which has been linked to hundreds of deaths across the UK.

Both cats Albert and Tina had been eating Sainsburys Hypoallergenic Recipe before they became seriously ill earlier this month.

The Food Standards Agency has recalled a number of cat foods by Applaws, Sainsburys, Ava from Pets at Home and Wilko.

No definitive evidence exists at this stage confirming a link between the cat food and a potentially fatal bone marrow condition called feline pancytopenia but recalls have been issued voluntarily as a precaution while an investigation takes place.

While a vet confirmed that Tina died from pancytopenia, which has been connected with the recalled food, Albert’s death is only a suspected case of the same disease.

The Royal Veterinary College is aware of 506 cats with the disease in the UK. Of these, 62.5% have died. Usually there is only one case in the UK in a year.

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Vivienne Cameron, who is from Pateley Bridge and was the owner of Albert, told the Stray Ferret:

“All I want to do is raise awareness. I had no idea when I bought the cat food that it could lead to Albert’s death.

“He was a really greedy, mummy’s boy. Albert would eat anything. He would probably try to eat you if you sat in his bowl.

“Albert had been eating that food for a few weeks. In the space of a week he stopped eating food, became quite lethargic and then died.

“I miss him. People cannot imagine how much I miss him.”

Liz Chambers, who is from Helperby, near Boroughbridge, and was the owner of Tina, said:

“When we took Tina to the vets they told us it was either cancer or pancytopenia. They said the best of the two would be cancer.

“We tried everything we could but she was not in a good way by the end. It was all very distressing.

“She was always there for us, whether it was by my side putting the clothes out or comforting my eldest when she was upset. It just feels empty in the house now.”

 

Boris Johnson welcomes first event back at Harrogate Convention Centre

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has welcomed news that the Harrogate Convention Centre has held its first events after being used as a Nightingale Hospital.

The Home and Gift Buyers’ Festival and the Manchester Furniture Show finished yesterday. Organisers said the four-day events attracted more than 10,000 visitors and had a projected economic impact of £750,000.

They were part of a government pilot scheme to gather evidence on the covid risks of holding large scale events safely.

All of those who attended had to provide proof of either having had two vaccinations at least a fortnight prior to the event or a negative lateral flow test within 48 hours.

They did not need to wear masks or observe social distancing rules, which were still in place across the UK for the first day of the event.

In a letter of support to Harrogate Convention Centre, Mr Johnson, said:

“The Harrogate Convention Centre is a great asset to the local economy, and I am so glad to hear that it is now back and ready to take part in the Events Research Programme pilot.

“The past year has been an immense challenge for the whole country and now, with the aid of events like this, we will all be one step closer to normality.”

Paula Lorimer, director at Harrogate Convention Centre, said:

“We’ve been waiting a long time to open venue doors and give people the opportunity to meet, network and do business.

“We were particularly delighted that it was the Home and Gift Show as our first major event, as it celebrates 60 years in Harrogate — it’s a real Harrogate success story.”

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Ms Lorimer added the convention centre has more than £15m of economic impact on its books between now and March.

Gemma Rio, head of destination management at Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“It was fantastic to see the buzz at Harrogate Convention Centre and across the town over the past few days.

“These two events, along with other recent events such as the Great Yorkshire Show are significant first steps in the event industries recovery.”

Harrogate district reports another 101 covid cases

Another 101 cases of covid have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

However, no covid-related deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital in more than three months.

NHS England figures show that the covid death toll at the hospital since March 2020 remains at 179.

Meanwhile, the number of covid patients in North Yorkshire hospitals has increased by 40 per cent in the last week — but just three are in Harrogate.

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Elsewhere, the district’s seven day covid rate continues to rise.

The district’s average currently stands at 532 cases per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire rate is 585 and the England average is 532.

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning it’s Connor with you this morning giving you updates every 15 minutes on the road and rail links near you.

The blog, brought to you by the HACS group, will show you where the traffic hotspots and temporary traffic lights are and tell you of any train and bus delays.

9am – Full Update

That is all from me this morning. I will be back with your traffic and travel updates from 6.30am tomorrow.

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon centres this morning but make sure to keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8.45am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon centres this morning but make sure to keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8.30am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon centres this morning but make sure to keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8.15am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon centres this morning but make sure to keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon centres this morning but make sure to keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7.45am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon centres this morning but make sure to keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

7.30am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon centres this morning but make sure to keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7.15am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning but make sure to keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning but make sure to keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

Harrogate district records highest covid rate since start of pandemic

The Harrogate district has recorded its highest covid rate since the start of the pandemic.

Today’s figure shows that the district has a seven-day average of 509 infections per 100,000 people.

It has surpassed the seven-day average of 497 that was recorded on January 7.

The overall North Yorkshire rate stands at 570 and the England average is 520.

Another 118 infections were recorded in the district today by Public Health England.

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However, no covid-related deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital in more than three months.

NHS England figures show that the covid death toll at the hospital since March 2020 remains at 179.

Latest statistics show that the hospital is treating five patients who tested positive for covid.

So far, 121,974 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 101,048 have had a second dose.

Freedom Day sees Harrogate district covid rate close to record high

The Harrogate district’s covid infection rate is on course to reach record levels this month, as almost all legal restrictions on social contact are lifted.

Social distancing rules which have governed people’s lives for over a year have finally ended today, with face masks no longer mandatory in shops and on public transport, limits on gathering gone and the work from home guidance ended.

Nightclubs, theatres and restaurants can also fully reopen, while pubs are no longer restricted to table service only.

But with covid cases continuing to soar, there are renewed warnings about pressures on key sectors of the economy and the NHS.

The weekly rate of infections in the Harrogate district currently stands at 495 cases per 100,000 people and appears certain to pass the previous peak of 497 in January.

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Meanwhile, today’s Public Health England figures showed a further 103 cases have been reported across the district.

Just five hospital patients

But the number of people currently in hospital with covid is nowhere near the levels from previous peaks – with just five patients in Harrogate as of last Wednesday.

There has also not been a virus-related death at the district hospital in more than three months.

With vaccines providing protection against serious illness, the effects of the virus are very different this time round. But the big unknown is how far this rise in cases will go before the virus slows down or goes into reverse.

Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, said in a letter to residents last week that although restrictions were ending, people should still “act responsibly” as he also encouraged the continued wearing of face coverings in busy spaces.

He said: 

“I can sum up our approach in two words: respect and protect. We can show respect for and offer protection to ourselves and those around us by continuing to do the simple things.

“Please continue to wear your face covering in crowded spaces outdoors or indoors.

“Businesses and shops need to do all they can to protect their staff, as well as customers. They don’t want to have to close because staff are self-isolating, so wearing a facemask not only protects you, it protects other people and supports local business.

“Likewise with social distancing, some people may not feel as confident as you, so giving them space is important. Regular hand washing and sticking to well-ventilated places remains important, too.

“Above all else, it is crucial that you have your vaccination. Get your first jab as soon as you’re able – and make sure you get your second jab, too. That continues to be our best line of defence.”

Stray Views: Why my friends won’t be returning to drunken Harrogate

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. See below for details on how to contribute.

Why my friends won’t be returning to Harrogate

Friends from Ilkley and Harpenden in Hertfordshire visited Harrogate today. They were totally horrified by the anti-social behaviour of the drunks by the war memorial on their way to Bettys and the art galleries in Montpellier and beyond.

They will not be back in a hurry and will undoubtedly tell all their friends that Harrogate is incapable of keeping the down-and-outs away from our major tourist attractions and that Harrogate is no longer the “nice” town of its historic reputation.

Should Harrogate care? These friends are wealthy retired folk with money to spend who were intending to visit the Sutcliffe Galleries, the Walker Galleries and the lovely new Watermark Gallery.Can I ask in total desperation, what will it take for our increasingly woke and insular council and its placid police force to understand the damage that is being done to the image, attractiveness and financial well-being of our town from their inability to deal with this very simple-to-solve problem and urge them to prevent a potentially irreversible reputation decline for our lovely town?

Tim Emmott, Harrogate

Station Gateway: economic concerns need addressing

Independent Harrogate, which represents more than 180 businesses. supports the proposed ‘Station Gateway‘ in general but we do have some serious concerns that it might have a negative impact on the local economy.

The scheme fails to address the need for park and ride schemes, a large number of electric car charging points and extensive safe cycling routes away from traffic that link with low-traffic neighbourhoods, therefore reducing congestion and in turn reducing carbon emissions.

And, to prevent congestion and an increase in carbon emissions, Station Parade must retain its two lanes, with enhanced cycling facilities reserved for East Parade.

We support James Street remaining fully open whilst supporting the narrowing at its junction with Station Parade to aid pedestrians crossing the road.

We urge North Yorkshire County Council to meet groups to discuss the finer details of the proposals.

William Woods, Independent Harrogate

Why is Kex Gill work taking so long?

Given that it is now more than two years since the Kex Gill route was finalised and finance was put in place, it is staggering that North Yorkshire County Council is now warning the scheme could be delayed because it hasn’t bothered to secure the land, in precisely the same way no one thought to consult the Duchy of Lancaster regarding the much-delayed Otley Road cycle path. Do they never learn?

David Howarth, Harrogate

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Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

 

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.

Read more:

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.

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.

Read more:

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.