Warning to Harrogate and Dales residents over covid roadmap
We're being told the roadmap will only be successful if we stick to the rules
Last updated 23rd Feb 2021
People in Harrogate and the Yorkshire Dales are being warned that the path out of lockdown depends on them sticking to the rules.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson laid out his roadmap out of lockdown yesterday, which starts with schools going back on March 8 with an end date for all restrictions pencilled in for June 21.
Harrogate's coronavirus infection rate now sits at 95 per 100,000 and Craven's has risen on last week to 77 per 100,000 people. The average for North Yorkshire is 84 per 100,000.
It's said the reason for the increase in the rate for Craven district is due to a small outbreak at a care home. The low population numbers mean just a few positive cases can increase the infection rate rapidly.
The number of Covid-19 patients in Harrogate Hospital has fallen to 48, down 19 on last week.
At a meeting of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum Amanda Bloor, NHS North Yorkshire CCG accountablity officer warned that the timetable for the unlocking could slip if rates go back up.
She said: “Matt Hancock has been speaking this morning and his view is that the timescale that has been outlined in the roadmap is welcomed but actually achieving that is on all of us, it is our responsibility.
“It depends how we respond to the news and I know that we all want to be unlocked and try and get on with normal life as quickly as we can but unless we keep doing what we are doing now and we stay at home the danger is that the numbers increase again.
“By staying at home now and being patient we will see those levels continue to come down.”
Chief Inspector Charlotte Bloxham of North Yorkshire Police also stated that the “stay at home” order remains in place until March 29.
Her warning came as 192 fixed penalty notices for breaches of Covid regulations were issued in the last week, the most in the third lockdown so far.
Scarborough once again topped the league table of shame with 67 fines issued. Harrogate was in second place with 34.
Chief Inspector Bloxham added: “It is really important that we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves at the moment and through irresponsible actions jeopardise the progress we have been making.
“Until March 29 the current lockdown restrictions will stay in place and we will continue to police them and take enforcement action against any breaches.”