The number of coronavirus-related deaths at Harrogate District Hospital has risen to 16 in the latest figures released by the NHS.

No deaths were reported yesterday, but the number confirmed for Monday rose from one to three.

In the figures released today by NHS England, the number of deaths reported across the UK is 828, bringing the total to of hospital deaths of patients with coronavirus to 6,483.

Of those reported today, the youngest was 22 and the eldest 103. While most had underlying health conditions, 46 patients did not, and the youngest of these was 35 years old.

Figures for the number of patients who have been treated in hospital and discharged are not currently available.

Meanwhile, the Nightingale hospital being created at Harrogate Convention Centre is expected to be complete by this weekend.

The mayor of Harrogate has spoken about the emotional moment he had to say goodbye to his wife as she was taken to intensive care with coronavirus.

April Martin first developed a cough and a temperature before she started having trouble breathing. The NHS 111 service told the couple to self-isolate back in mid-March.

Councillor Stuart Martin today told the Stray Ferret April’s condition deteriorated last week before he called the ambulance to take her to Harrogate hospital.

“I had to say goodbye to her in the ambulance and I didn’t know whether or not I would ever see her again. I have still been able to speak to her on the phone. It’s not the same as being with her but I understand why I can’t go to the hospital.”

April is still on oxygen at the hospital but the consultant is said to be hopeful that she could be back home in the next few days.

“April and I would like to thank the NHS staff from the cleaners to the consultants. We are keen to thank all of them and wish them all the best, we are so grateful for all of their skills and efforts. If they hadn’t taken April to hospital last week, we would be having a very different conversation.”

One patient who tested positive for coronavirus died at Harrogate hospital yesterday.

It’s the fourth day running that Harrogate District Hospital has reported at least one COVID-19 related death.

So far, 14 coronavirus patients have died at the hospital.

88 out of the 758 latest deaths reported today were in Yorkshire and the North East.

Of the 758 deaths in England, the patients were aged between 23 and 102 years old.

29 of the patients, who were aged between 23 and 99 years old, had no known underlying health conditions.

There are no published figures for the number of patients who have recovered from the virus and been discharged from the hospital.

A Harrogate hotel will light up every night to show support for NHS staff battling on the frontline against coronavirus.

The Crowne Plaza, on King’s Road, is currently closed following government guidance but there are a few staff still working to maintain the building.

Last night was the first time the hotel staff lit up different rooms to spell out NHS and they will make some minor tweaks to improve it going forwards.

Vanessa Jackman, who is part of the hotel’s management, told the Stray Ferret:

“The hotel, along with the whole world, is so appreciative of the NHS staff and all of the key workers keeping us going during the coronavirus pandemic.”

The hotel is next door to the Harrogate Convention Centre, which is currently being converted into a Nightingale Hospital for Yorkshire and the Humber.

North Yorkshire councils and police will share over £15 million as part of a new emergency coronavirus fund.

The money, which is part of a £1.6 billion government fund, will help the local authorities deal with the pressure across their services.

It is designed to increase support for the adult social care workforce and for services helping the most vulnerable, including homeless people.

North Yorkshire County Council will get £15.2 million, the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner will get £108,000 and Harrogate Borough Council will get £65,900.

The Stray Ferret has approached each of the local authorities for a breakdown of how they will spend the money but has received no response by the time of publication.

Local Government Secretary, Robert Jenrick said:

“The work of local authorities to deliver social care and other vital public services has never been more important than it is now – and will be – in the days and weeks ahead.

 

“That’s why we’re giving local councils £1.6 billion of additional funding to spend where it’s needed most, to ensure they can meet the cost of the increased demand for social care, and continue to protect the most vulnerable people in society.”

The emergency coronavirus fund is separate from the support fund for small businesses, hospitality, and leisure businesses.

That business fund has recently increased by £10 million to a total of £50 million, and Harrogate Borough Council has already distributed £12 million.

Councillor Graham Swift, deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development for Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“We know businesses are under intense pressure. Our business rates team have worked extraordinarily hard to gear up to process tens of millions of pounds of government cash to support local businesses.

 

“We have drafted in extra staff to deal with grant payments and top priority is getting the money into the bank accounts of local businesses as quickly as we can.

 

“Many grants have already been received and we are busy processing others so that they should be hitting accounts early next week.”

Debenhams could be missing from Harrogate town centre once it re-opens following the coronavirus crisis, after the national chain filed for administration.

It is the second time that the company has called in administrators, and it said the move was designed to get it through the current challenges in order to re-open stores once restrictions are lifted.

However, it is unclear how many and which of its branches will re-open, with 50 permanent store closures already announced. One Harrogate business leader said he was unsurprised by the news, as the chain had been in trouble for some time, and he did not expect the Harrogate store to re-open.

Bob Kennedy, chairman of Harrogate BID, said: “I’m sure there will be a Debenhams that comes out of administration. I would be very surprised if the Harrogate store was part of their plans.”

Mr Kennedy said he felt it was more likely the building would be split into smaller retail units on the ground floor and residential above. Such a large building was not likely to be appealing to many retailers, he said, as changes on the high street continue to affect brands’ needs.

The size of the Debenhams store makes it unlikely to appeal to a single retailer, according to Bob Kennedy

Regarding the pressures on other town centre businesses while the coronavirus continues, Mr Kennedy said the BID is doing all it can to ensure they make a strong start once trading is possible again.

“While nothing can be done physically at the moment, the board members are trying to put things in place so when we do all get re-open we are in the best possible position to try and catch up on some trade we’ve lost,” he said.

 “One of the main priorities is to make sure the town has had a good deep clean. Then to focus on the autumn and the run up to Christmas and making sure we try to have plans in place to make that as good as it can possibly be.

“For all these businesses that have lost an absolute fortune, hopefully it’s a chance to catch up and pull at least some money back.”

The construction site of Harrogate’s Nightingale Hospital has been a hive of activity this week.

When it opens, the temporary hospital will have up to 500 beds available to care for coronavirus patients.

The convention centre’s contract caterers have returned and volunteered to work for nothing to feed the 400 strong team of contractors building the hospital this week.

So far, six patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have died at Harrogate District Hospital with 163 confirmed cases in North Yorkshire.

One Harrogate street has been keeping spirits high during the coronavirus lockdown by getting involved in a daily exercise class.

“Right. Now some squats,” Mel Milnes bellowed out at around 8.30am on Spring Grove to a group of around 20 eager participants.

The classes started out with just one side of the street a couple of weeks ago before the rest of the neighbours wanted to get involved.

From then it has become a daily ritual at the same time from Monday to Friday.

Mel is not pretending to be a fully qualified fitness instructor but, then again, this isn’t an intense fat burning class.

She told the Stray Ferret: “Each day we have been getting more and more people involved. It’s just meant to be a bit of fun, it’s just a bit of a laugh and the street has really enjoyed it. We are self-isolating but the street has gotten closer together. We are even organising a pub quiz later this week, which we’re all going to do from our gardens.”

Mel has led many of the classes but she has also got other people lined up for the microphone, with an eight-year-old girl trying it out tomorrow.

How has your street adapted to life on coronavirus lockdown? Get in touch with the news team on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

2nd April 2020
Fitness class on Spring Grove, Harrogate

2nd April 2020
Sue Riley leads the fitness class on Spring Grove, Harrogate

2nd April 2020
Fitness class on Spring Grove, Harrogate

2nd April 2020
Fitness class Spring grove

Army and NHS staff toured the site of Harrogate’s new Nightingale Hospital on day three of construction.

When it is up and running, which could be possible over the next week, it will help the NHS deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Three temporary ‘Nightingale’ hospitals have already been announced – in London, Manchester and Birmingham – with more understood to be in the planning stages.

Although the NHS has not yet revealed full details about the project, an announcement is expected imminently.

It comes as the number of confirmed cases in North Yorkshire has risen to 149, with six deaths at Harrogate District Hospital.

2nd April 2020
Construction at Harrogate Conference Centre

2nd April 2020
Construction at Harrogate Conference Centre

2nd April 2020
Convention Centre Harrogate, new signage

2nd April 2020
Convention Centre Harrogate, construction work outside the Royal Hall

2nd April 2020
Harrogate Convention Centre

2nd April 2020
Harrogate Convention Centre

2nd April 2020
Harrogate Convention Centre

2nd April 2020
Harrogate Convention Centre

2nd April 2020
MOD arrives at Harrogate Convention Centre

2nd April 2020
Fleet of Emergency vehicles arrives at Harrogate Convention Centre

2nd April 2020
Emergency staff arriving at Harrogate Convention Centre

A university student is making good use of her time in lockdown by providing free concerts for her Harrogate neighbours. 

Lucy Crocker, 22, played songs from her front garden in Mallinson Oval last Friday, hoping to lift spirits. 

So many of them came outside to listen from their doorsteps and driveways that she is planning to make it a weekly concert. 

She said: “I saw videos of people giving concerts on their balconies and I thought, ‘I could do that’.  

“When I’m at university, we have informal student recitals every Monday and I miss that when I’m away.” 

Former Harrogate Grammar School student Lucy plays viola and sings, and says she can play a few chords on the ukulele. Her first performance consisted mostly of music she already knows, but she has been taking requests from her neighbours and practising their suggestions. 

“I don’t know that much modern music – I’m more used to playing in orchestras,” she said. “But I’m OK at playing by ear, so if I know the song I can usually play it.” 

Lucy plans to continue her concerts for as long as people are at home to hear them. She is preparing to sit the final exams for her earth sciences degree at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, from home, where her parents and younger brother are also in lockdown. 

There are other families living nearby, as well as elderly people, and Lucy said she was keen to bring people together, even if from a distance. 

“I wanted to have a little bit of interaction with the neighbours that isn’t just on a messenger basis,” she said. “They all came out and seemed to enjoy not just the music, but all being out at the same time and chatting to each other across the road.” 

Among those who appreciated the performance was Margaret Willis, who has family living in Harrogate and helping out with food supplies but is missing seeing people every day. 

“All us oldies were out in the road,” she said. “We all kept our distance but it was nice to get out and chat to neighbours.  

“I think it did us all good. Everybody said how lovely it was. Even people who hadn’t been out for ages brought a chair out and sat down to listen – it was really good.”