North Yorkshire residents are thanked as it is confirmed current COVID-19 restrictions will remain in place

The Government has confirmed that the county is in Tier 1 (medium alert level) in the new three-tier system for local restrictions introduced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week. This means existing limitations, as summarised below, remain in place – in line with most of the rest of the country.

However, North Yorkshire County Council Chief Executive Richard Flinton warned yesterday (Wednesday, October 14): “We should not forget that we are surrounded by many areas under far tighter interventions and with stricter rules.”

Several areas bordering North Yorkshire are in Tier 2, meaning the COVID-19 alert level is high – including Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Doncaster, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockon-on-Tees and Darlington. York is set to move into Tier 2 from Saturday (October 17).

The council says there are currently no travel restrictions within the county, but people should avoid travelling to areas with a COVID-19 alert of very high. From Saturday, this will include the following areas bordering the Craven district: Lancaster, Ribble Valley and Pendle.

In the latest update from North Yorkshire County Council, Mr Flinton said: “Thanks to your collective effort over recent weeks, we are seeing the previously surging infection rates stabilise in a number of areas, and outbreaks in many settings are effectively managed.

“Our businesses have responded immediately and with diligence to the requirements of national government around providing safe environments for staff and customers. Many people have downloaded the NHS app to help support faster contact tracing where someone you have been close to has tested positive for COVID-19.

Mr Flinton added: “Understanding that is helpful for a number of reasons. Firstly, because it should give us all confidence to continue to attend or support our education and childcare settings, to carry on supporting our businesses and to go about our daily lives in a safe way.

“Also, because if we accept that fact, we know exactly what we must do to keep on top of it. Wash our hands, keep our distance, cover our faces and stick to the rule of six. You have proven once again how willing you are to make the necessary sacrifices. Please, stay part of Team North Yorkshire and keep making that difference.”

While rates have “stabilised”, the number of cases of COVID-19 in North Yorkshire continues to increase. As of October 12, there had been 5,222 positive tests since March 3, with 1,422 new cases reported in the past two weeks. Over the past week, the average number of new cases is approximately 116 cases per day.

'Testing'

COVID-19 testing capacity for people experiencing symptoms is to be increased in North Yorkshire with the building of two seven-day-a-week sites.

Two local testing sites are scheduled to come into operation shortly, one in Harrogate and the other in Scarborough, as part of the Government’s UK-wide drive to continue to improve the accessibility of coronavirus testing for local communities.

The Harrogate site will be off Dragon Parade, which has hosted mobile testing units. Construction on the modular building is scheduled to finish on Sunday (October 18). The site would then begin operating on Wednesday, October 21.

The Scarborough local testing site will be on William Street Car Park outside The Street. Construction is likely to be at the beginning of November, creating a site with a similar testing capacity to the Harrogate site. After an initial pilot period, the centres will open between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week.

Both sites will be walk-through centres, meaning people can arrive on foot rather than having to drive in. People must book tests in advance (visit NHS booking website or call 119). 

Mobile testing units will continue to operate at locations around the county – click here for the latest dates and locations.

Mr Flinton said: “Our Public Health consultants tell us that testing capacity across the county remains good. That is a crucial piece of the jigsaw in battling COVID-19.

'Care'

It was announced last month that North Yorkshire’s care homes and supported living schemes were being advised to limit routine visiting during October to protect residents as COVID-19 infection rates rise across the county.

Now a task group charged with looking at the county’s approach to care home visiting, during the pandemichas met for the first time.

The county council’s director of Health and Adult Services Richard Webb said: “We know how vital these visits are for residents and their families and friends and how important they are for people’s mental and physical well-being.

“Care providers across the county have undertaken a huge amount of work and shown continuing dedication to protect our care home residents and staff during the pandemic and, in recent months, when care homes were able to open up to visitors again.

“But we have seen infection rates rising to a worrying degree across the county, largely through household and community transmission. In the last month, we have also seen a growth in COVID outbreaks in care homes and more COVID admissions to our hospitals.

“Whilst we are working hard to contain and manage outbreaks, including within the care sector, we had to take immediate steps to protect our care home residents and to advise a halt to visiting while we examined a COVID-secure route to enable them to begin again and continue beyond October, if at all possible.”

'Schools'

The council said the numbers of schools reporting positive cases remained low and in the vast majority, this involves a very small number of cases. This is being managed by isolating those identified in close contact following the advice and guidance of Public Health England.

Attendance remains consistently above the national average. Mr Flinton said: “Our schools now have 92% attendance – this, I hope, is due to the faith parents have in our education system and our teachers’ ability to provide safe learning environments for pupils. We are extremely grateful for that support.”