Covid: Harrogate infection rate remains low while some Yorkshire areas among worst affected

Harrogate has a weekly rate of 14.3 cases per 100,000 people - a figure which has declined steadily ince the peak of the second wave in January.

Most areas in England have followed on a similar downward trajectory but just beyond Harrogate's borders are Selby, Doncaster, Kirklees and Barnsley which are now among the top 10 worst affected.

Selby yesterday had the highest infection rate in England at 111.5 after a sharp rise in cases which were linked to a workplace outbreak.

According to Public Health England data, some 73 people in the neighbouring district tested positive for the virus in the last seven days. The same figure for Harrogate was 23.

It has meant the average infection rate for North Yorkshire of 28 has now climbed above the England average of 24.8.

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Louise Wallace, director of public health for North Yorkshire, said while "every measure" was being taken to contain the Selby outbreak, it had highlighted that "Covid-19 is still circulating among the population" and showed "how easily the rate can spike".

Meanwhile, Doncaster has an infection rate of 67.7 cases, while the figure for Kirklees is 66.6 and Barnsley 61.2.

It comes as no coronavirus deaths have been reported at Harrogate hospital in just over two weeks.

According to NHS England figures, the most recent Covid-19 death at the hospital was on 11 April.

The total since the pandemic began stands at 179.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter