Harrogate district’s R number increases amid third lockdown

The Harrogate district’s R number has increased to 2.1 as the country enters another national lockdown.

It means the virus is spreading more in the district and for every 10 people infected, it spreads to 21 more.

The number, which refers to the reproduction rate, has increased over the past three weeks as cases continue to rise.

On December 15, the figure was just 0.6 – meaning the number of new cases was falling – but it now stands at 2.1 today.

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It comes as today’s figures revealed a further 95 cases of coronavirus in the district, taking the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic up to 4,883.

Meanwhile, the district no longer has the lowest seven-day case rate in North Yorkshire. The average increased to 359 per 100,000 people. Ryedale is now the lowest with 320, while Richmondshire remains the highest at 480.

Public health bosses in North Yorkshire today warned that cases will likely worsen in the county in the coming weeks until the lockdown begins to take effect.

The daily cases in the Harrogate District hit a record high yesterday after 141 were confirmed. Officials said today the new variant of coronavirus was almost certainly in the county.

New coronavirus variant ‘certainly’ in North Yorkshire

Local health leaders believe that the new coronavirus variant is in North Yorkshire as the country heads into a national lockdown.

While they have no concrete evidence, they say cases have spiked locally in line with the variant’s fast-spreading nature.

The seven-day rate of infection in North Yorkshire has risen from 189 per 100,000 people on December 30, to 346 today.

In the Harrogate district, the seven-day rate has risen to 297 per 100,000 people.

However, all districts in North Yorkshire remain below the England average seven-day rate of 560 per 100,000.

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In a coronavirus press briefing today, local health bosses warned that the coronavirus case rates will likely worsen over the next two weeks.

Dr Victoria Turner, a public health consultant at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“We have talked for the last couple of weeks about the new variant that has been spreading from the south east of England.

“I mean we will certainly have cases of this in North Yorkshire.

“Now we have to act as if this is the predominant form of the virus across the country. We should treat every cases as the new variant.”

National lockdown hits Harrogate district

The Harrogate district’s streets were quiet this morning on the first full day of the third national lockdown.

In response to an “alarming” rise in coronavirus cases, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the new restrictions yesterday evening.

Mr Johnson said that people across England will be asked to stay at home, only leaving for essential shopping, medical needs, work where it cannot be done from home, and to escape domestic violence.

He concluded his announcement with the same message as he gave when last March’s first lockdown was announced: “Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.”

Harrogate district prepares as national lockdown announced

The Harrogate district will see its schools and non-essential shops closed with immediate effect as a new national lockdown begins.

In response to an “alarming” rise in coronavirus cases, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the new restrictions this evening.

Mr Johnson announced that people across England will be asked to stay at home from tonight, only leaving for essential shopping, medical needs, work where it cannot be done from home, and to escape domestic violence.

The late announcement of school closures, though not unexpected, is likely to cause concern for parents who once again find themselves supporting home schooling and juggling work with childcare.

Mr Johnson said:

“We have been doing everything in our power to keep the schools open because we know how important each day in education is to children’s life chances…

“I want to stress that the problem isn’t that schools are unsafe for children. The problem is that schools may nonetheless act as vectors for transmission, causing the virus to spread between households.”

MPs will be recalled to Parliament on Wednesday to vote on the measures. The Prime Minister said they would come into force from the early hours of the morning, leaving MPs to vote retrospectively. He added:

“Now, more than ever, we must pull together. You must follow the new rules.”

Mr Johnson concluded his announcement with the same message as he gave when last March’s first lockdown was announced: “Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.”

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It comes as cases across the country have soared along with hospital admissions in parts of the south.

Last week, daily cases in the Harrogate district hit a record high as more than 100 infections were confirmed. That high was beaten by today’s announcement of 141 new cases.

Meanwhile, residents are raising concerns about whether the vaccine is being delivered in the district, after the vaccination centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground remained closed for much of the Christmas and new year break.

Are you ready for the new lockdown? What will the impact be on your family, work or business? Send your views to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Growing concern in Harrogate district over lack of communication on covid vaccine

Vulnerable residents in Harrogate have raised concerns over the lack of communication for the coronavirus vaccine, as the centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground appears to have been closed over Christmas.

Several concerned residents contacted the Stray Ferret and reported the centre being closed for multiple days over Christmas and New Year. It remained closed on Sunday and had not reopened this morning.

Some of those who got in touch are in their 80s and said they have not heard anything on when they may get the jab, which they should be eligible for in the first round of vaccinations.

David Hill, 82, a local resident who is expecting to be notified about his vaccination, said his friends were becoming frustrated with the process.

He said most of those aged over 80 have yet to be contacted about their first dose.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“They are not going outside much, they are scared about going out. They are watching the news all day long and waiting for a text for the jab and they are not getting it.

“I do feel that they are getting stressed out beyond words.”

The centre was first opened on December 22, with 83-year-old Anne among the first to be vaccinated and a couple from Bilton receiving the jab a week after their 60th wedding anniversary.

It followed the approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which was rolled out at hospitals and local vaccination sites across the country.

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The site appealed for volunteers to help marshal the car park and signpost patients. It opened with a morning session from 8.30am until 1.15pm and afternoon vaccinations from 2.30pm to 6.15pm.

But it appears to have been closed over several days at Christmas, with residents reporting the gates shut and no activity at the site. Residents have been contacting the Stray Ferret to ask when and how they will be notified about the jab, and why the vaccination centre appears to be closed.

The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group to confirm how many days it had been in use over Christmas and why it had been closed, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

The group has yet to comment publicly at all on the vaccination centre, even to confirm its location – despite extensive signage around the site and some people having been invited for appointments last month.

The vaccine centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

The vaccine centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground, which opened on December 22.

Last month, local health bosses appealed for people to be patient over the rollout of the vaccine and the lack of information.

Richard Webb, North Yorkshire County Council’s director of health and adult services, said the NHS was working “as quickly as possible” to administer the vaccine and that residents should wait to be contacted by their GP or local NHS trust.

Mr Webb added:

“Our colleagues in the NHS are working around the clock to prepare to receive the latest batches of vaccines. Please be patient, it’s a massive logistical issue.

“They are moving as quickly as possible to get people vaccinated.”

Despite the reassurances, the apparent closure of the centre during the Christmas break has led more people to contact the Stray Ferret. We will continue to ask the CCG for information about what is happening at the site.

NHS England figures up to December 31 show a total of 786,000 people have received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

However, the data does not include a breakdown by region. It remains unclear how many have been vaccinated in the Harrogate district.

Meanwhile, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said this morning that 530,000 does of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will be rolled out at six hospitals this week.

The government has ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine and is planning on delivering two million a week by the middle of January.

Harrogate district daily coronavirus cases hit another record high

The number of daily coronavirus cases in the Harrogate district has reached another record high with 141 positive tests confirmed in the last 24 hours.

The figure is an increase on the previous high reported on December 31, when 101 were recorded across the district by Public Health England.

It takes the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic up to 4,788.

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The seven-day rate of infection in the district has also increased to 297 per 100,000 people. However, it remains the lowest rate in North Yorkshire, with Richmondshire the highest on 465.

Meanwhile, a further patient who tested positive for coronavirus has died at Harrogate District Hospital.

The latest death, which took place yesterday, January 3, takes the total number of deaths reported at the hospital since March up to 110.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to make an announcement tonight on a further restrictions for England.

Seventy-two further coronavirus cases as district’s rate rises

A further 72 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases up to 4,647.

The district’s seven-day case rate has increased to 235 per 100,000 people, but remains the lowest in North Yorkshire.

Richmondshire is now the district with the highest rate at 357, followed by Hambleton on 343 and Scarborough on 293.

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The county-wide average stands at 286 per 100,000, below the national rate of 481.

Meanwhile, no further deaths from patients who tested positive for coronavirus have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

Since March, 109 patients diagnosed with coronavirus have died at the hospital; the last of these was recorded on December 28.

Harrogate district records highest daily coronavirus cases

The Harrogate district has recorded its highest daily number of coronavirus infections since the start of the pandemic with 101 positive tests.

It takes the total number of cases since March up to 4,412.

The number surpasses the previous daily high of 95, which was reported on November 9 shortly after the second lockdown began.

It comes as North Yorkshire was placed in tier three yesterday amid fears of surging covid cases.

In further bad news, another coronavirus death has been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

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It takes the total number of deaths at the hospital from patients who tested positive for coronavirus to 107.

Meanwhile, the seven-day rate of infection in the district has increased to 141 per 100,000 people, but remains the lowest in the county.

The county average is 207 and the England average is 414.

Yesterday, senior health officials in North Yorkshire appealed for patience over the vaccination programme amid concern by some people about a lack of information.

Vaccination for the Pfizer-BioNTech jab got underway this month at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.

Tier review: Harrogate district set for tougher restrictions

The Harrogate district looks set to move to a higher tier, and possibly even tier four, following a flurry of developments this afternoon.

Sharon Stolz, director of public health at City of York Council, told ITV News it was “inevitable” the city would face tougher restrictions in the coming days.

Any changes affecting York would also apply to the Harrogate district unless the government changes its policy of maintaining the same tier level across North Yorkshire.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is due to announce the outcome of the latest tier review tomorrow afternoon.

North Yorkshire is in tier two but Ms Stolz said this was “no longer sufficient to contain the spread of the virus”.

She said although the city had not seen large outbreaks yet, the numbers were creeping up.

Her comments came on the day the R number for the Harrogate district rose above one for the first time in over a month.

Ms Stolz added:

“Without some additional restrictions coming in, my worry is that we will just see the virus spread and we will start to see large outbreaks.

“So I think it is inevitable there will be some announcement tomorrow of additional restrictions for York.”

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Also today, Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton said he still wanted a “super local approach” that would allow some parts of the county to stay in tier two but added:

“Regrettably, I think we can reasonably expect York and North Yorkshire to enter a higher tier in the next few days, my best guess being the early hours of New Year’s Day.

“In terms of which tier, it appears that infection rates are not dropping significantly in those areas currently under tier three restrictions.

“My view then, and I speak as the parent of a child taking their A levels this year, I would prefer a shorter, sharper, shock with wider closure of the economy together with extended financial support for businesses and with schools providing a full timetable on an online-only basis until the end of January.

“At that point, with vaccinations starting to have meaningful effect we should be through the worst of this desperately damaging crisis.”

Mr Hollinrake’s comments came after a call today with North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which represents groups fighting covid in the county.
The forum has called an urgent media briefing for tomorrow amid growing speculation of a change of tier.

 

Harrogate district R number rises above one

The R number for the Harrogate district has risen above one for the first time in over a month.

It means the virus is now spreading faster in the district than it is being eradicated.

The R number refers to the rate at which the virus is reproducing. The latest increase means every 10 people infected will pass it on to 11.

The sub-districts with the most infections are Starbeck and Ouseburn, Hammerton and Tockwith, which have both recorded 20 in the last seven days.

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It comes as North Yorkshire is braced for a tier review tomorrow which could see the county placed under tougher restrictions.

The Harrogate district recorded a further 47 cases of coronavirus today, according to Public Health England.

It takes the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic up to 4,258.

The seven-day rate of infection in the district has increased to 126 per 100,000 people but remains the lowest in North Yorkshire.

Hambleton is the highest with 291 after its case average has soared in the last week.

Harrogate District Hospital also confirmed its first death since December 10 from a patient who tested positive for coronavirus.

The total number of coronavirus deaths at the hospital now stands at 107.

Will Harrogate district change tier in tomorrow’s review?

Another government tier review is scheduled for tomorrow amid rising coronavirus cases across the country.

The Harrogate district avoided harsher restrictions in last week’s review and stayed in tier two, despite other areas being placed in tier four.

However, the district has seen a gradual increase in both infections and the R number since then.

There has also been talk of tougher restrictions everywhere to combat the new mutant strain of the virus.

North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which represents agencies that combat covid, has called an urgent media briefing tomorrow to respond to rising transmissions rates and Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s tier announcement.

Rising case rates

The Harrogate district’s seven-day infection rate has increased since the last tier review on December 23 but remains the lowest in the county.

Last week, the district reported a rate of 86 infections per 100,000 people. That has risen to 115.

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But there is widespread concern about soaring rates elsewhere in the county, which could drag all of North Yorkshire into a higher tier.

Recently, public health bosses expressed concerns about Scarborough’s rate. But the borough’s rate, which was the highest in the county last week at 264, has since dropped to 215.

Hambleton, however, has seen its rate rocket from 100 to 242, according to the most recent figures.

The county-wide average stands at 165, which is still below the national rate.

By comparison, Peterborough, which is in tier four, has a rate of 412 cases per 100,000 people.

The Harrogate district’s much lower rate gives hope it may again escape being moved up a tier.

Hospital admissions

There is widespread national concern about the rise in covid hospital admissions.

Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, warned the country was “back in the eye of the storm” after figures showed that 20,426 patients were being treated in hospitals on Monday.

The number is an increase on 18,976 recorded on April 12 during the peak of the first lockdown.

Locally, most recent figures show 14 covid patients are currently being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.