More than 1,000 coronavirus deaths in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire has recorded more than 1,000 coronavirus deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Latest figures make grim reading for those on the frontline leading the fight against the virus.

So far, 1,006 have people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in the county.

Local health leaders revealed the news at a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, a partnership of emergency agencies, today.

It also comes as the Harrogate district recorded just a further 18 coronavirus cases today. The daily figure has dropped significantly from early January.

The total number of reported coronavirus cases in the Harrogate district is now at 6,928.

As a result, the seven-day rate for the Harrogate district is now 121 while North Yorkshire’s rate as a whole is 123 per 100,000.

Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any coronavirus deaths today but reported one yesterday. 141 people have died after a positive test at the hospital so far.

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Richard Webb, the corporate director for health and adult services at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“Today we are starting with another milestone, with the latest figures from yesterday. 1,006 people have died from coronavirus in North Yorkshire.

“We want to remember those 1,006 people and offer our condolences to their loved ones.

“While we are seeing improvements in infection rates they still remain high. The best way we can help those in the NHS is by following the hands, face, space guidance.”

Hospitals across North Yorkshire are still under more pressure now than at any point during the first wave of the pandemic.

There are 343 coronavirus patients across the county’s hospitals. 44 of those are in intensive care but there may be others on ventilators in general care.

Harrogate District Hospital currently has 61 coronavirus patients, which is a reduction of three patients from last week.

The hospital has been treating a record amount of covid patients.

David Mattinson, medical registrar on one of Harrogate District Hospital’s covid wards, tweeted recently that it had been “exceptionally busy” since Christmas and urged people to stay at home.

100 businesses back east/west model to replace North Yorkshire councils

More than 100 businesses in North Yorkshire have backed an east/west model to replace the current two-tier council system in the county.

The proposal has been submitted to government by the six district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, as part of reorganisation plans.

It would see Craven, Harrogate, Richmondshire and Hambleton join together to form a unitary council in the West, with a population of 363,000, and Selby, City of York, Ryedale and Scarborough join together to form a unitary council in the East, with a population of 465,000. 

A rival model, submitted by North Yorkshire County Council and City of York, would see one unitary council for North Yorkshire with the York authority remaining in place.

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The government has told councils it will go to consultation on local government reorganisation in North Yorkshire and York this month.

Now, more than 100 businesses have written letters of support and backed the east/west proposal.

Among them is Kevin Towers, MCEO of Techbuyer which is based in Harrogate.

He said:

“We are a high growth employer, planning to add another 100 jobs in the next three years. We believe the east and west model will offer many advantages to local communities and the business sector. 

“It will enable more place-based local government and joined-up thinking on planning, transport and development that will help promote and support sustainable growth. Our experience of developing new business units in a number of different countries suggests that this is the best route to success.”

Meanwhile, Alan Cutler, deputy managing director of The PEEL Entertainment Group, based in Skipton, said: 

“Two equally balanced unitary authorities in the east and west will help maintain close connections between local government and businesses. 

“Looking further forward to devolution, the east and west model would create a balanced combined authority, which will be more effective in delivering levelling-up and clean growth, attracting and retaining a younger workforce and expanding our strong skills base.”

Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, speaking on behalf of the council leaders, said: 

“Our east and west model will help drive recovery from the covid-19 pandemic and build a better economic future for the whole area. It is the only proposal that delivers two equal partners to sit within a mayoral combined authority – which is important for the success of devolution.”

County plan would “cut through red tape”

Meanwhile, the county council has said its plan would help to support businesses across North Yorkshire.

In its plans, it said companies would “only ever need to deal with one council” and make the council more accountable.

It said:

“Businesses would only ever need to deal with one council. It would mean an end to having to deal with several councils with different roles and policies.

“It would be business-friendly and streamlined, with strong local services and systems – the same for businesses in Skipton as for those in Scarborough – and a single organisation responsible for economic development, housing, planning, highways, trading standards and other essential services.

“To ensure that there are decision-making powers on a local level, a single authority for North Yorkshire would work closely with parish and town councils, enabling them to run services, where they wanted to, that we would fund. We would put in place new ways of working with communities, understanding the issues and driving the change that is needed.

“The clarity of one council working for the public and businesses will make that council more accountable.”

Robert Goodwill, MP for Scarborough, added in an open letter that devolution was “essential in attracting investment, supporting business and protecting and creating jobs as we rebuild our bruised communities”.

He said the county council’s model would provide “strength, scale and experience” for North Yorkshire.

Mr Goodwill said:

“This way you would replace the current wasteful and confusing two-tier system of local government and create one council for the entire county working in partnership with the City of York to create a devolved authority under an elected mayor. It would be a powerful voice in the North.”

Harrogate hospital covid patients up to record 64

The number of covid patients at Harrogate District Hospital has increased to a record 64 – bucking the county trend.

Health leaders said today covid patient numbers in North Yorkshire as a whole had declined in the last week.

But the number in Harrogate had increased by 10 from last week’s 54 — which was the previous record high since the start of the pandemic.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, told a press briefing today Harrogate was the only hospital to experience an increase in the last seven days.

She added:

“We are beginning to see a slight drop in the numbers of covid-positive patients in our hospitals.

“But it is worth saying that the number remains significantly higher than the maximum number that we saw in wave one last year.”

A total of 440 patients are currently in North Yorkshire hospitals, which are based in Harrogate, York, Scarborough and South Tees. Fifty of those are in intensive care.

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Last week 504 patients were in hospital with covid.

Ms Bloor added there would not be a rapid reduction in number of admissions to hospital, despite the slight decrease.

She said:

“I don’t think we are going to see a significant and quick drop in the number of admissions. We want to see that consistent, steady decline in numbers.

“Members of the public will help to achieve that by continuing to comply with the guidance.”

David Mattinson, medical registrar on one of Harrogate District Hospital’s covid wards, tweeted last week it had been “exceptionally busy” since Christmas and urged people to stay at home.

Covid: South African variant arrives in North Yorkshire

The South African variant of coronavirus has been found in North Yorkshire, public health leaders revealed today.

Louise Wallace, director of public health in North Yorkshire, said “a small number” of cases had been identified in the Scarborough area and were linked to international travel.

Ms Wallace added there was “not considered to be any community risk” with the cases.

She told a press briefing of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which co-ordinates the county’s response to the pandemic:

“These cases are not linked to community transmission as is the position in high profile news coverage we will all be aware of nationally.”

She added those affected were isolating and the county council was “not aware” of any cases of the strain in the community in the Harrogate district or other districts in North Yorkshire.

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The South African mutation of coronavirus is feared to be more resistant to vaccinations.

The government ordered surge testing on Monday in eight areas across the country where clusters of the variant were found.

Door-to-door testing was deployed in an effort to test 80,000 people in areas ranging from Bristol to Liverpool.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons yesterday it was “critical” people in those areas stay at home while testing is carried out.

However, North Yorkshire public health bosses said today surge or extra testing in the county would not be necessary at this time.

They added that the county and City of York were “in a strong position” in terms of swab tests that could be deployed at short notice if necessary.

Ms Wallace also told the briefing the seven-day rate across North Yorkshire could “take some time” to come down.

Currently, the rate in the Harrogate district is 181 cases per 100,000 people and the county-wide rate is 164.

Ms Wallace said infections had reduced since the third lockdown began but added:

“It is going to time to get that infection rate to decline. Of course we want it to decline and we do not want it to plateau.

“But it is going to take time and the worst case would be if it started to increase.

“As always, I just really want to urge everyone to continue to play their part to reduce the spread of the virus. It is very slow in terms of the infection rate of coming down and we need to keep making that happen.”

Government commits £56m for Kex Gill re-routing

The government has committed up to £56 million in funding for an overhaul of the Kex Gill section of the A59 between Harrogate and Skipton.

The proposed new road will divert traffic away from the landslip-prone part of the route and will see the creation of a diversion west of Blubberhouses at Kex Gill.

The project, which is yet to receive planning permission, would take a year to complete with the county council covering the remaining £4.95 million.

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The plan for the realignment of the A59 at Kex Gill as proposed by North Yorkshire County Council. Picture: NYCC.

The plan for the realignment of the A59 at Kex Gill as proposed by North Yorkshire County Council. Picture: NYCC.

The site has a long history of landslips, which have blighted travel on the road for years.

According to North Yorkshire County Council planning documents, between October 2000 and May 2019, five landslips were recorded at the site and the retaining wall failed four times.

North Yorkshire County Council’s planning and regular functions committee met earlier this month to consider the proposals, which received extensive support from the public and North Yorkshire county councillors.

However, no decision was made after Lewis Williams, representing mining firm Sibelco, requested the application is given final approval by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick.

Mr Jenrick is yet to respond to the request.

Mr Williams argued the valuable minerals in the area should be given more consideration.

Although the Blubberhouses quarry closed some years ago, he said there remained significant mineral deposits which were valuable to industry but had been overlooked in a plan that was “ham-fisted, rushed and ill-conceived”.

Covid patients at Harrogate hospital hits record high

Hospital admissions for people with coronavirus at Harrogate District Hospital have hit a record high.

Health bosses said today the hospital currently has 54 covid patients — 10 more than last week.

According to latest government hospital admissions data, which runs up to January 19, the previous high was 48 on January 13.

A total of 504 patients are being treated for covid across North Yorkshire’s hospitals in Harrogate, York, Scarborough and South Tees. Sixty-one are in intensive care.

By comparison, the same hospitals had 302 covid patients at the peak of the first lockdown last year.

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Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, revealed the numbers at a press briefing today by North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which represents organisations fighting covid.

She said the numbers in hospital were “the highest they have ever been”.

Ms Bloor said the latest figures, including the UK reaching 100,000 covid deaths yesterday, should be a reminder of what the virus can do to communities. She added:

“How much more of a stark message do we need around North Yorkshire and York around the seriousness of the virus and the consequence that it can reek on our communities and our residents.

“Surely those facts alone, if nothing else, should focus everybody’s behaviour now on complying with the guidance.”

Harrogate hospital has suspended some non-emergency surgeries in an effort to free up bed space and staff to deal with patients.

Hospitals across the county have surge plans in place to deal with an increase in covid patients.

A trust spokesperson said the admissions figure given today was down on a few days ago.

Harrogate district on track to achieve February 15 vaccine deadline

Health leaders in North Yorkshire said today they were confident of having enough covid vaccine to inoculate all four top priority groups by February 15.

Concerns have been raised about the supply of vaccine to the region, with some reports saying it may be reduced to let other parts of the country catch up.

But officials at North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group said they have been assured by government supply will be in place to meet next month’s target for the most vulnerable groups.

The four priority groups include residents and staff in care homes, over 80s and frontline health workers, over 75s, over 70s and the clinically extremely vulnerable.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire CCG, told a North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum press briefing that supply does vary from week to week but officials were confident of meeting government targets.

She said:

“The government has assured us that there is supply in place. We have plans in place across North Yorkshire and York to meet those targets by February 15.

“The amount we get from week-to-week does vary. But what I would say is that this is not just a North Yorkshire vaccination campaign, this is a national campaign to target the most vulnerable.”

Health bosses confirmed the vaccine has been offered to all care home workers and residents in the region.

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However, some homes have had to defer inoculations due to outbreaks of covid among residents and staff.

Ms Bloor said:

“We cannot vaccinate people who are currently poorly with covid or the period immediately after they have had covid.

“Where these is an outbreak, the vaccination will be deferred in that home.”

Officials confirmed today that 126,163 vaccinations have been carried out across North Yorkshire and York.

Of that number, 107,752 have received a vaccine at a local vaccination site, such as the Great Yorkshire Showground. A further 18,411 have been vaccinated in hospital.

Meanwhile, a new vaccination site will be opened at Ripon racecourse next week.

The site will be the latest centre to serve the Harrogate district, alongside the Great Yorkshire Showground, Elland Road in Leeds and Askham Bar in York.

52,500 clinically vulnerable people vaccinated in North Yorkshire, says Harrogate MP

52,500 people in the highest priority groups have received a covid vaccine in York and North Yorkshire, according to Harrogate’s MP.

In an e-mail to constituents, Andrew Jones said a further 12,000 vaccinations had also been carried out in hospitals to frontline staff.

Mr Jones said the figures were correct as of Monday this week.

It comes as health bosses said all care home residents and staff in the county would be vaccinated by the end of this week.

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Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire CCG, told a North Yorkshire Resilience Forum meeting earlier this week:

“I am pleased to say that thanks to the tremendous effort from all of our colleagues delivering the vaccination programme, we are on course to deliver vaccination to all care home residents and staff by the end of this week.”

Ms Bloor added that officials were making “good progress” towards vaccinating all healthcare workers by the end of the month as well as the February 15 target set by the government for all priority groups.

Vaccinations in the Harrogate district are being administered at the Great Yorkshire Showground. However, a mass vaccination hub opened on Monday in York, which offers jabs to those within a 45 minute distance.

Health bosses announced a vaccination site will be opened in Ripon, but details on its location have yet to be confirmed.

Officials have also said people in the district can wait for an invite to the Great Yorkshire Showground instead of travelling to York.

MP hits out at covid vaccine supply reports

Mr Jones also hit out at reports that the supply of coronavirus vaccines to Yorkshire will be halved next week.

In his email, he addressed “covid-19 fake news” and went on to say a story regarding vaccine supply “was wrong”.

It follows reports in the Health Service Journal that the North East and Yorkshire will see its supply halved next week because it is ahead of other regions in vaccinating its eligible population.

The HSJ reported that the region is set to see does available to GP-led sites down by 200,000 compared to this week.

Mr Jones has said reports of the halve in supply are “wrong in terms of numbers and trend”.

He said:

“Reports that the number of vaccines supplied to our region are being halved are just wrong. 

“I have checked this with the NHS and the number of vaccines supplied to our region this week is 364,000, next week it will be 300,000 and the week after that 350,000. 

“The story is wrong in terms of numbers and trend.”

However, Dr Nikki Kanani, medical director of primary care at NHS England, told BBC Radio 4 Today programme that vaccines were being diverted away from areas like the North East and Yorkshire.

She said:

“Yes I really understand my colleague’s frustration, particularly in this case it happens to be in the northern areas, they’ve done an incredible job getting through their cohort priorities one and two, so their care home staff and residents, their over 80s and their health and social care staff.

“And so while we have a supply that is constrained we need to make sure that goes to the areas where people are not vaccinated, because what we have to do, our priority is to make sure that the top priority groups are vaccinated as quickly as possible.

“So we need to target our deliveries to make sure that they are going to areas where there are more people left to vaccinate in the priority cohorts.”

Harrogate district reports 79 further coronavirus cases

The Harrogate district has had a further 79 cases of coronavirus confirmed, according to today’s Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 6,163.

The seven-day average rate of infection for the district stands at 325 people per 100,000.

The county-wide average is 303 and the national rate 467.

Killinghall and Hampsthwaite remains the area in the district with the most covid infections in the past seven-days, with 60 cases.

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Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, told a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum today that 44 covid patients were currently being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.

Hospitals across the county have 471 positive covid patients — an increase of 84 on last week.

The current figure is 169 more than the peak of the first lockdown.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for coronavirus have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England data.

All Harrogate district care homes to get vaccine this week

All care home residents and staff in North Yorkshire will be given the coronavirus vaccine before the end of this week, health bosses said today.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said officials expected to meet the target of January 24 set out in the organisation’s vaccination programme.

It comes as the government set a target of February 15 to offer vaccines to all those in high priority groups.

Ms Bloor told a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, a partnership of emergency agencies:

“I am pleased to say that thanks to the tremendous effort from all of our colleagues delivering the vaccination programme, we are on course to deliver vaccination to all care home residents and staff by the end of this week.”

She added that the goal would be met “where it is clinically safe to do so” and provided there is “no disruption this week to the scheduled supplies that we have got and that we are expecting”.

Ms Bloor said officials were also making “good progress” towards vaccinating all healthcare workers by the end of the month as well as the February target set by the government for all priority groups.

Nationally, 4.1 million people have received the vaccine so far.

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Of that figure, 633,837 people in the North East and Yorkshire have had the first dose and 71,332 the second dose.

No data for the amount of people who have been vaccinated specifically in the Harrogate district is currently available.

At the moment, vaccinations are being offered to those in the highest priority groups. Those over 70 are expected to receive invites to have their vaccine this week.

Vaccinations in the Harrogate district are being administered at the Great Yorkshire Showground. However, a mass vaccination hub opened on Monday in York, which offers jabs to those within a 45 minute distance.

Health officials have urged people in the Harrogate district and across North Yorkshire to be patient as they roll out the vaccine.