The Harrogate district average covid rate has fallen after soaring in recent weeks to record levels.

Another 95 infections were recorded today by Public Health England.

It brought the weekly rate down to 560 per 100,000 people after it yesterday reached 580 — the highest it has been at any time.

The district’s rate still remains well above the North Yorkshire average of 451 and the England average of 336.

Killinghall and Hampsthwaite has recorded 71 infections in the last seven days, which is the most in the district. Ouseburn, Hammerton and Tockwith is next with 70.

At the other end of the scale, Stray has had just 25 cases, which is the fewest in the district. Menwith, Beckwithshaw and Denton Moor has had 26.

Read more:

• Rise in covid cases ‘being driven by school-age children’, says public health boss
• Harrogate district continues to set new coronavirus rate record

Harrogate’s coronavirus infection rate is rising sharply and has equalled record levels – but hospitalisations and deaths remain low.

The borough’s weekly rate per 100,000 people is currently at 534 – higher than any other area in North Yorkshire and equal to its previous record in July.

However, hospitalisations remain much lower than previous waves with 10 covid-positive patients receiving treatment in Harrogate District Hospital as of last Wednesday.

The hospital is also reporting fewer deaths, although there has been a slight increase in recent weeks with the latest death coming on Wednesday last week when the hospital’s toll since the pandemic began reached 188.

Elsewhere in North Yorkshire, Selby has the second highest infection rate at 470, followed by Scarborough at 440, Hambleton at 421, Craven at 373, Ryedale at 327 and Richmondshire at 289.

Read more:

• 350 Harrogate hospital staff not fully vaccinated against covid
• 500 staff at North Yorkshire care homes could leave due to compulsory vaccinations

The North Yorkshire average is 437 and the average figure for England is 327.

166 infections reported today

A further 166 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district today, according to latest Public Health England figures.

The rise in cases comes as health officials last week announced Ripon racecourse will reopen as a covid vaccination centre.

Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge also have pharmacy-run sites offering booster jabs and vaccines but the full list of sites where the jabs will be delivered in the Harrogate district has yet to be revealed.

The rollout of third doses to around 30 million people across the UK is now underway.

Those eligible for the booster jabs include over-50s, younger adults with health conditions and frontline health and care workers.

Patients will be invited on a priority basis and they have been urged not to contact the NHS, but to wait to hear from the health service.

According to latest NHS figures, a total of 128,131 people in the Harrogate district have now received their first vaccine dose and 120,309 people their second.

Figures for third doses are not yet available.

Another 129 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district today — the highest daily number in almost two weeks.

Today’s spike in cases is the highest since the district recorded 132 cases on September 7, according to Pubic Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases since the pandemic began to 15,122.

The district now has the second highest seven-day case rate in North Yorkshire, with 291 infections per 100,000 people. Scarborough’s rate of 322 is the highest.

The Harrogate district rate remains above North Yorkshire’s at 263 and England at 257.

Read more:

• ‘It’s allowed me to live’: Ripon women tell their stories of organ donation
• Festival of wellbeing to be held in Harrogate

The death toll at Harrogate District Hospital from covid-related illnesses since March 2020 remains at 186.

There have been 247,388 first and second vaccinations given in the Harrogate district.

The Harrogate district weekly covid rate has remained above the England average after today’s figures revealed another 66 infections.

A recent downward trend had seen the district’s rate fall from 424 cases per 100,000 people last Sunday to 274 yesterday.

However, today’s data from Public Health England means the rate has risen to 285. The rates for England and North Yorkshire both stand at 259.

The area in the district with the most infections in the last seven days is Harrogate East, with 45.

Menwith, Beckwithshaw and Denton Moor has recorded the fewest, with just eight.

Read more:

• Swastikas sprayed as Knaresborough monuments desecrated
• Report of man wielding knife outside Harrogate Odeon

The Harrogate district’s covid infection rate is rising steadily as thousands of pupils make a return to classrooms this week.

The borough’s weekly rate per 100,000 people now stands at 386 and pre-term testing is being used to limit infections at schools and colleges, while rules on social distancing and face masks have been scrapped.

Meanwhile, a further 102 infections have been reported in the district, according to today’s daily Public Health England figures.

The return of schools has stoked concerns over a sharp spike in cases, similar to what has happened in Scotland where infections among under 15-year-olds have tripled since pupils restarted in mid-August.

Speaking last week, Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, said cases in the county are currently much higher than when schools returned last September – and that people should be “very aware” another spike can happen.

He said: 

“This time last year, the rates before schools went back and worse weather arrived were considerably lower than those we see now.

“Last year, we saw another big spike in cases, so we need to be very aware that that can still happen.”

Health officials at the county council last week urged all 16 and 17-year-olds to get vaccinated against covid “as soon as possible” ahead of the return to school this week.

Read more:

• 500 staff at North Yorkshire care homes could leave due to compulsory vaccinations
• North Yorkshire health officials urge 16 and 17-year-olds to get jab
• Three covid deaths recorded at Harrogate hospital

The calls came as scientists on the UK’s vaccine advisory body refused to give the green light to vaccinating healthy children aged 12 to 15 years on health grounds.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation said these children were at such a low risk from the virus that jabs would offer only a marginal benefit.

Infection rate almost up to 400

According to latest NHS figures, a total of 127,181 people in the Harrogate district have now received their first vaccine dose and 116,631 people their second.

Meanwhile, no further covid deaths have been recorded at Harrogate District Hospital.

The hospital reported three more covid deaths on Friday to take its toll since the pandemic began up to 184.

The latest infection rate for the Harrogate district of 386 is above both the North Yorkshire and England averages of 341 and 321.

The rate has been climbing steadily in recent weeks after falling sharply in mid-July from a record level of 536.

Elsewhere in North Yorkshire, Selby currently has the highest rate at 392, while Richmondshire has the lowest with 242.

A further 72 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district today.

The infections takes the total since the pandemic began to 13,813, according to figures from Public Health England.

The district’s weekly infection rate has risen again to 372 cases per 100,000 people.

Read more:

• Harrogate mum refused entry to uniform shop for not wearing face mask
• North Yorkshire health officials urge 16 and 17-year-olds to get jab

It remains above the North Yorkshire rate of 332 and the England average of 312.

No coronavirus deaths were reported at Harrogate District Hospital today. The number of covid-related fatalities since March last year remains at 184.

Another 89 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to today’s Public Health England figures.

The district’s weekly covid rate now stands at 316 infections per 100,000 people. The North Yorkshire rate is 314 and the England average is 330.

Harrogate District Hospital is currently treating 10 patients for covid.

Read more:

• Covid hospitalisations increase in Harrogate district and across county

• Council blames covid for barring group from Knaresborough House

Harrogate hospital has recorded no covid deaths in the last 24 hours, according to NHS England statistics. However, two people have died at the hospital due to covid since last Wednesday.

It means the death toll at the hospital from covid since March 2020 stands at 181.

A total of 124,017 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 112,000 have had a second dose.

Eighty-seven per cent of adults have had a first jab and 78 per cent have had two jabs.

A further 51 positive covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district today.

It takes the district’s total since March 2020 to 12,243, according to latest Public Health England figures.

No covid-related deaths have been reported at the hospital for four months. The total remains at 179.

The last time a death was recorded was on April 11.

Read more:

• Covid ‘pings’ forces Bilton Cricket Club to cancel charity fundraiser
• Harrogate residents criticise ‘ridiculous’ Victoria Road scheme

Meanwhile, the Harrogate district’s coronavirus infection rate is still “plateauing” after falling sharply last month, latest figures show.

The district’s weekly rate now stands at 266 cases per 100,000 people – a level it has remained stable at over the past two weeks.

It marks a significant decrease from when the rate peaked at 533 in mid July but officials have warned the latest figure is still too high and that the wider health and social care sector is facing “exceptional” levels of demand.

The Harrogate district’s covid rate has begun to increase again after another 74 infections were confirmed today.

The weekly rate had fallen rapidly from 534 cases per 100,000 people on July 18 to 247 cases yesterday.

But after a spate of infections in recent days the district’s rate now stands at 267, which is above the North Yorkshire rate of 257 but below the England rate of 282.

Data from Public Health England also showed that a total of 229,143 people in the district have had covid vaccines and 123,145 have received one dose.

Currently, eight people are in Harrogate District Hospital for coronavirus treatment and no deaths from covid have been recorded at the hospital for almost four months.

Read more:

• Council’s new leisure company to focus on health and wellbeing
• Knaresborough vaccine centre ramps up walk-in clinics this month

Just 45 covid infections have been recorded in the Harrogate district — the lowest 24-hour figure since June 26.

Today’s data, from Public Health England, reduces the district’s seven-day average rate of infection to 260 per 100,000 people.

The rate peaked at 534 on July 18 and has more than halved in the fortnight since.

The current rates for England and North Yorkshire are 291 and 260 respectively.

Harrogate West and Pannal has had the most infections in the district in the last seven days, with 42, followed by Ripon South and East with 35.

At the other end of the scale Pateley Bridge and Nidd Valley has had just 12 cases.

There has not been a covid-related death at Harrogate District Hospital for almost four months now.

Read more:

• Freedom Day sees Harrogate district covid rate close to record high
• Harrogate Christmas market organisers call for urgent talks to save event