Scarborough residents warned to be vigilant as hospital admissions rise

The borough has the lowest infection rate in North Yorkshire but the number of patients in Scarborough Hospital increased by more than 20 per cent in the last seven days.

A total of 52 people are now in the hospital, up nine from last week. Across the county 504 people are now in hospital with Covid-19, more than 200 above the peak of the first wave in April.

The increase comes as the borough’s seven day infection rate per 100,000 drops to 113, its lowest level since January and below the national average of 369.

Amanda Bloor, NHS North Yorkshire CCG Accountable Officer, told a meeting of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum today that people had to continue to play their part to save lives.

She said: “We have now got over 500 patients in the North Yorkshire and York hospitals with Covid. That’s the highest number we have ever had.

“The significance of that number should reinforce and push home the message around how important it is to comply with the guidance, to protect people that we know and live with in our communities.”

Mrs Bloor also revealed that 126,163 vaccines have been given in North Yorkshire and York since December. The number includes some second doses which were being offered at the start of the programme.

Community pharmacies should start offering vaccine appointments in the near future, the forum heard.