Scarborough's Coronavirus infection rate falls again

Scarborough’s infection rate continues to fall, as the borough gets ready to find out what Tier of restrictions it will find itself in when lockdown ends next week.

The borough’s seven-day infection rate has dropped to 330 per 100,000 people, down from 577 this time last week.

On Friday, the rate was 411.

Over the last seven days, the borough averaged 51 cases a day, a drop from 90 seven days ago.

Today, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will outline the new Tier restrictions which will come into force when lockdown comes to a close on December 2.

The restrictions will be stricter than the ones which preceded the lockdown, with reports that stores, gyms and other businesses will be allowed to re-open.

However, details on which areas will be placed into which Tier is now not expected to be known until Thursday.

Scarborough’s infection rate, though falling, remains above that of every other North Yorkshire district and it is also much higher than the average for England, which is now 227.

The borough’s overall total number of cases, since the start of the pandemic, is now 2.710 - after 145 new cases were added from Friday and the weekend.

Today, a mobile testing facility will be at Whitby’s Marina Car Park on Langborne Roa,d before visiting Filey Country Park tomorrow and Scarborough’s Seamer Road park and ride site, on Wednesday.

Scarborough’s walk-in coronavirus testing site at William Street Coach Park is also offering testing seven days a week, from 8am until 8pm.

Appointments must be booked in advance.

Anyone who is showing coronavirus symptoms should register for a test on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

People who do not have access to the internet, or who have difficulty with the digital portals, can ring the 119 service to book.

Tests can be booked at https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.