Scarborough borough's infection rate soars - Tier 3 restrictions are possible, say council chiefs

The latest seven-day infection rate is now 247.3 cases per 100,000 people - up from 214 on Friday.

Scarborough's rate is still below the average for England, which is currently 262.2.

There have been 3,475 confirmed cases of the disease in the borough since the pandemic began.

Council chiefs warned late on Friday that residents needed to help avoid "a New Year spike in Covid-19 cases", like the one seen locally in November.

Scarborough Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council says if the increases in cases continue at the same pace, the area will face the prospect of Tier 3 restrictions.

They warned that will mean more disruption for the whole community and, especially, the local economy.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a tightening of restrictions in England amid concerns over the rapid spread of a new variant of coronavirus.

As of yesterday, areas in the South East of England which were in Tier 3 have moved into a new Tier 4 – effectively returning to the lockdown rules of November.

In addition, the rest of England will see the Christmas “bubble” policy – allowing up to three households to meet up over the holiday period – severely curtailed, applying on Christmas Day only.

In North Yorkshire and elsewhere, council chiefs say transmission within households remains the biggest factor in the number of cases and, as Christmas approaches, people are being urged to think carefully before meeting family or friends.