Harrogate hits record high in daily Covid cases as almost 100 recorded on Wednesday

It is the second time in just over a week the district has set a new record high and comes as the hospital has reported an increasing number of Covid patients.

Ninety-six people tested positive for the virus on Wednesday - with the Harrogate West and Pannal ward seeing the steepest rise in the last seven days with 42 new cases.

Harrogate East followed closely behind with 41, while Killinghall and Hampsthwaite recorded 34.

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The trust which runs Harrogate District Hospital has also revealed that 24 coronavirus patients are currently receiving emergency treatment – an increase of eight on last week.

It also comes as the district's weekly infection rate remains the highest in North Yorkshire and continues to climb above the national average - with 268 cases per 100,000 people.

The average for England is 236.

Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, has urged people to "embrace" the new national lockdown and said people should remain hopeful that the infection rates can come down.

He said: "The virus remains widespread across the county and we must not forget that. But if we can work together to get on top of that spread, we can drive those transmission rates down and help protect our families and help our businesses reopen.

"The goal here must be to save lives and protect the economy."

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter