New testing data reveals Harrogate has had more than twice as many coronavirus cases as reported

Public Health England previously only published test results from swab tests in labs, tests in NHS hospitals and health and care worker test results - known as Pillar 1 data.

Tests performed at Harrogate Hydro leisure centre - and other swab tests on the general population - also known as Pillar 2 test results, were not included in the published data.

The government released Pillar 2 figures for the first time on July 2 - which saw the number of confirmed cases in the Harrogate district jumped from 325 to 694 - an increase of 113 per cent.

And now latest figures show the number of confirmed cases stands at 697, with an infection rate of 434.2 per 100,000 people.

To put that into context, Leicester, which was last week put back into lockdown, now has 3,850 confirmed cases with an infection rate of 1,083.8.

Sixteen days in a row of no new coronavirus deaths at Harrogate hospital, latest figures show

North Yorkshire’s director of public health, Dr Lincoln Sargeant, said: “We have been aware for a number of weeks that the way in which the statistics were to be reported was going to change.

“This meant that positive tests from the regional, satellite and mobile test centres would be included.

“The government has now published this Pillar 2 data. This reporting change does increase the figures and may make it look as though there has been a big rise in infection rates. This is not the case. It is linked solely to a change in reporting."

It comes as the confirmed number of cases for North Yorkshire stands at 2,514, with an infection rate of 409.1.

Dr Sargeant added: “New cases in North Yorkshire continue to decline, but we must not be complacent. We all need to play our part to maintain this progress.

“People should stay two metres apart, if possible, or at least one metre and if it is just one metre they should take additional precautions. You should also wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.

“Everyone in North Yorkshire can play their part in helping us return to normality safely by taking these simple steps.”

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter

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