People urged to keep North Yorkshire in Tier 1 of COVID-19 restrictions as half-term approaches
The county is currently in the lowest of the three tiers (Medium Alert), with most surrounding areas either in Tier 2 (High Alert) or Tier 3 (Very High Alert) – meaning they are subject to tougher restrictions.
On Saturday (October 24), South Yorkshire will move from High to Very High Alert – which means Doncaster joins Lancaster, Ribble Valley and Pendle on the list of areas bordering North Yorkshire that residents of our county should not travel into.
In the latest update from North Yorkshire County Council, Chief Executive Richard Flinton said that thanks to the efforts of local residents, the county’s average rates of coronavirus cases are roughly half those of the Yorkshire and Humber region, and just below the average for England.
He added: “That Team North Yorkshire spirit means we remain in Tier 1 – also known as Medium. However, we know how quickly positions can change and we have a number of areas currently close to and one above the England average.
In Selby, the latest figure for a rolling seven-day average is 179 with the England average 169. In recent weeks, we have seen the highest stats in Harrogate and Craven. The numbers are volatile; partly because of the lower population levels in many areas and partly because a single outbreak can have a considerable impact. I am telling you all of this not to alarm you, but to focus the mind and to ensure that you are aware of the need for continuing vigilance.
Mr Flinton explained: “This is particularly important as we head into the half-term school holidays next week. I hope many of you will have planned nice things to do with your families. We must try to continue to enjoy our beautiful county and to support its rich array of shops, cafes and restaurants. While doing so, we need to stay alert to the risks and take the simple actions that we know protect us and our loved ones.
“So, please, while you are out and about keep washing your hands and using the hand sanitisers in businesses, wear a face covering where advised indoors and outdoors where it’s difficult to keep a safe distance from people you don’t live with. And don’t forget the rule of six, of course.
“We should not lose sight of the huge effort made by our hospitality and retail businesses to put in place a raft of measures to protect you and their staff and these are very successful. In fact, there is very little transmission in these settings as a result of that huge and positive effort. The majority of cases can be tracked back to households and socialising too closely with other people.
If we are to stay out of additional measures this is where we need to make the changes. Only you can make that difference, so that is my ask of you today. Enjoy a COVID-safe half-term! There are even some top tips for a safe Halloween here on our website, too. Trick or treat may be out this year but how about a pumpkin trail?
'Rule of six'
The number of cases of COVID-19 in North Yorkshire continues to increase. At October 18, there have been 5,970 positive tests since 3 March, with 1,470 new cases reported in the past two weeks. Over the past week, the average number of new cases is approximately 91 per day.
Health officials are urging people to follow the rule of six when socialising, to stay two metres apart from people they do not live with where possible and to wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult.
It comes following a sudden spike in confirmed cases among young people in Scarborough, where socialising and group activities may have contributed to the spread of the virus.
Further information on North Yorkshire data provided at county, district and local area level can be found here.
People are reminded to follow the “Hands. Face. Space” advice and:
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Wash your hands regularly
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Wear a face covering indoors where social distancing may be difficult and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet
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Stay two metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or one metre where extra precautions are in place such as indoor ventilation.
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When seeing friends and family you do not live with, or who are not part of your support bubble, do not meet in groups of more than six indoors or outdoors.
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When meeting friends and family you should also follow social distancing rules, meet people outdoors where practical and limit how many different people in total you see socially over a short period of time.
