Scarborough borough infection rate below county average but cases still high health bosses warn

The borough is averaging just under 50 new cases every day as infection rates across North Yorkshire continue to rise.

The seven day infection rate per 100,000 people in Scarborough now stands at 314. On December 12 the borough’s rate was just 177 and on Christmas Day it was at 212.

The average infection rate across North Yorkshire is also trending up after increasing by more than 100 in the last seven days to 436 cases per 100,000 people.

On Friday, Louise Wallace, North Yorkshire’s director of Public Health warned people that the new strain of the virus was more transmissible and urged them to stay close to home.

She said: “We are dealing with a highly transmissible variant of the virus and now, more than at any other time during this pandemic, we need to stick to the lockdown rules and stay close to home.

“The roads and streets are clearly busier than during the first lockdown and the dangers are evident as we see the numbers of cases continuing to rise. People can become seriously ill with Covid and some people sadly die, so I urge everyone to play their part in stopping the spread of this virus and stick to the rules.

“This would be a terrible time to lose a loved one when the end of this pandemic is in sight with the vaccine roll-out.

“We just want people to keep safe and keep each other safe when the chances of picking up the virus now are so much greater.”

Mobile testing sites will be in Whitby, Scarborough and Filey this week for people with coronavirus symptoms to get tested.

To find your nearest test location visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/book-coronavirus-covid-19-testScarborough’s walk-in coronavirus testing site at William Street Coach Park is 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.