South African variant found in Scarborough borough but infection rate fall continues

The borough’s seven day infection rate per 100,000 people has fallen to 103 from 108 yesterday.

The average rate for England is 256 while in North Yorkshire it is now 160.

Yesterday, it was confirmed that two cases of the more contagious South African variant had been confirmed in Scarborough.

The cases were linked to international travel and there was believed to have been no community transmission of the virus.

Louise Wallace, North Yorkshire’s director of Public Health, told a meeting of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum that: ”The people involved have done all the right things since turning home from abroad.

“They have self isolated in line with the guidance, as such there is not considered to be any community risk associated with them and, therefore, we will not be sharing any additional information about them.

“At this time we are not aware of any community cases of the South African variant of Covid-19 in North Yorkshire.”

Mobile testing facilities will be available in Whitby, Scarborough and Filey this week.

To see the locations and to book a test visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/book-coronavirus-covid-19-testWilliam Street Coach Park in Scarborough is still offering testing seven days a week from 8am until 8pm.

Tests can be booked at https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.