Sharp rise in Harrogate Covid infection rate
The borough’s weekly rate per 100,000 people is currently at 507.
Harrogate’s coronavirus infection rate is rising sharply - according to the latest NHS figures.
The borough’s weekly rate per 100,000 people is currently at 507 – higher than any other area in North Yorkshire - and nearing its previous record of 534 in July.
But hospitalisations remain much lower than in previous waves of the virus.
There were 10 Covid-positive patients receiving treatment in Harrogate 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 when the hospital’s toll since the pandemic began reached 188.
Elsewhere in North Yorkshire, Selby has the second highest infection rate at 459, followed by Scarborough at 432, Hambleton at 404, Craven at 360, Ryedale at 327 and Richmondshire at 264.
The North Yorkshire average is 421 and the same average figure for England is 320.
The rise in cases comes as health officials last week announced Ripon Racecourse will reopen as a Covid vaccination centre and Knaresborough’s York Road site will relocate for the booster programme.
The rollout of third doses to around 30million people across the UK is now underway and a full list of sites of where the jabs will be delivered in the Harrogate district has yet to be revealed.
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 128,094 people in the Harrogate district have now received their first vaccine dose and 120,240 people their second.
Figures for third doses are not yet available.