People across the Aire and Wharfe Valleys are being reminded of the action they can take to help prevent the spread of coronavirus after a spike in cases in some parts of the area.
Last night (Wednesday 16th September), North Yorkshire's Local Resilience Forum announced it was going back into 'full emergency mode', following evidence of rising numbers of Covid-19 cases and growing evidence of community transmission. This includes in the Craven district as well as Selby, Harrogate and Scarborough.
Nationally, 2.6m people across the North East of England are facing extra local restrictions because of rising case numbers.
The North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum - which comprises organisations including the police, local councils and the NHS - says everyone in the county must 'act now to save lives, protect jobs and the economy and ensure schools can stay open'.
Richard Flinton, Chief Executive of North Yorkshire County Council and Chair of NYLRF said: “Together, over the last six months, all of us who live and work in North Yorkshire have made a huge effort to prevent and reduce the spread of Covid-19 locally. We thank everybody again for their many sacrifices. However, as we have seen nationally and around the world, cases are rising again and the threat of the virus is a real and present danger.
“In North Yorkshire we have remained at a high level of alert since lockdown eased and we have monitored and managed outbreaks where they have happened very successfully with Test and Trace. We have secured good access to reliable PPE kit, supported individuals, communities, care services, schools, businesses and the county’s more frail residents.
“However, we are seeing community transmission of the virus now and a worrying rise in cases in a number of areas. We know how quickly infection rates can change and we are calling on the whole county to act now with us in response.
“Please show extra restraint and caution and to take additional actions above and beyond those required nationally to help us try to avoid another lockdown here.”
Superintendent Mike Walker, gold commander for North Yorkshire Police’s response to Covid19, and the chair of the North Yorkshire Strategic Coordination Group, said: “This week we have seen the introduction of the new ‘rule of six’ nationally, in response to the rise in positive cases across England. We have taken a number of measures to reassure the public that we understand how important sticking to the covid rules are to protect our residents, communities and economy.
“This now includes having dedicated patrol cars out and about, crewed by officers who will use the tried and tested ‘four Es’ process where they will engage with groups who are not following the rules, explain what the rules are and encourage them to follow them, only using enforcement as a last resort.
“However we are asking everyone in North Yorkshire to step up their own level of awareness and response to help us fight the virus here too. As a partnership we are strong but we cannot do this alone. So please do the right thing for the county and go the extra mile to keep safe. Do everything you can to limit the chances of inadvertently spreading Coronavirus. Keep your distance, use a face covering and wash your hands regularly. Thank you.”
Dr Lincoln Sargeant, Director of Public Health for North Yorkshire, said: “There are significant limitations with laboratory capacity nationally, as demand for tests increases. We know that Government is working to address this situation but, in the meantime, it means that fewer test appointments are available and test results are taking longer to be processed. This issue is a national one and outside of our control. We have escalated our concerns nationally and we are targeting our local testing facilities towards the communities and people in greatest need”.
In the Bradford district - which includes Ilkley, Silsden and Keighley - there have been increases in case numbers in some wards. The latest data for the period 6th to 12th September shows 19 positive Covid results in the Steeton and Silsden area, as well as 17 in Keighley Central & East.
In Silsden, the Robin Hood pub announced it had closed for a few days, while the Old Post Office Cafe confirmed a member of its staff was self-isolating after a positive test.
Hi All, As you may have heard, one of our members of staff has tested positive for Covid19. Please be ensured this...
Posted by The Old Post Office Cafe Bar on Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Silsden Whitestar football team also confirmed that a 'few individuals' from the club were isolating with their families.
🇸🇴 It’s been a tough old time not just for the club but for the few individuals who due to no fault of their own are now isolating with family, it’s testing times like these you gotta pull together and it will determine you’re character. #back26th #Covid_19 #StaySafe #doitright💙
— Silsden Whitestar (@SWhitestar) September 14, 2020
In addition a number of individual classes in local schools across the area have been closed with children doing their learning remotely, though no schools have been closed completely.
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