Covid infection rate: Borough's figure soars as Government calls the Scarborough situation 'most concerning'

The borough’s seven-day infection rate is now 214 cases per 100,000 people, up from 184 yesterday after 32 new cases were recorded.

Scarborough is now averaging 33 new cases every day.

Scarborough’s rate remains below the average for England, which stands at 235, though the gap is narrowing with each passing day.

Scarborough and North Yorkshire were kept in the Tier 2 High level of restrictions yesterday by the Government.

In its reasons for keeping North Yorkshire in Tier 2 the Government also highlighted Scarborough’s infection levels, calling the current situation “most concerning”.

Following the decision, the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum said that rates in Scarborough were “beginning to rise markedly again” and urged vigilance ahead of Christmas.

Richard Flinton, chairman of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum said: “We know there will be some disappointment in areas where rates are lower, that we remain in Tier 2 as a whole county.

“But we can see that rates of reduction have flattened out and in some areas have risen again and our priority has to be about keeping our people Covid safe as we move into the Christmas period.”

He added: “Several of our hospitals remain under pressure and some are experiencing an increase in Covid cases.

“Infection levels amongst people aged over 60 are reducing in the main, but we still have outbreaks in 36 out of 235 care homes and cases are increasing in these settings.”

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

Appointments for all sites 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.