The Harrogate district seven-day covid rate of infection has increased to 58 cases per 100,000 — up from 52 yesterday.

The latest figure is above the North Yorkshire rate of 45 but below the figure for England of 74.

Ten more infections in the district were confirmed today by Public Health England.

The district’s worst affected area is Ousebourn, Hammerton and Tockwith, which has recorded 11 infections in the last seven days. Bilton is next, with nine.

Tadcaster, which has recorded 12, has had the most cases in the whole of North Yorkshire.

However, another day has passed without any deaths at Harrogate District Hospital.

Seventy-eight per cent of adults in the district have received first vaccines; 65 per cent have had second jabs.

Read more:

• More than 200,000 covid vaccines given in Harrogate district
• Covid outbreak delays Harrogate council bin collections

Harrogate Borough Council has defended its temporary homeless shelters after some people raised concerns about their use.

The four yellow container units will be in Tower Street car park in Harrogate for the next three months.

Every local authority is expected to adopt a severe weather emergency protocol, which describes measures to provide emergency accommodation for rough sleepers during severe weather.

Cllr Mike Chambers, the cabinet member for housing and safer communities, told the Stray Ferret:

“I have not been inside but they are comfortable and appropriate for someone who needs some shelter for a couple of nights.

“Each of the shelters has windows, heaters and toilets. We have several hostels and we are an exemplar council for looking after homeless people.”

Read more:

• Harrogate council creates temporary homeless shelters
• Strayside Sunday: We are treating the homeless as human cargo

New government guidance this year warned of the dangers of coronavirus in night shelters. It also asked local authorities to consider “self-contained accommodation options”.

According to council figures, 29 rough sleepers in the district were taken off the streets during the “Everyone’s In” measures in the first lockdown, of which 10 are still being supported by the authority.

When the Stray Ferret reported that the council had installed these shelters it prompted a diverse range of views from our readers.

Some said they were “excellent” and a “good stop gap”; others argued they “looked horrendous” and suggested using other solutions, such as hotels.

Harrogate Borough Council said at the start of December the containers will be in place for three months.