A further 150 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the Harrogate district in the last 24 hours, according to the latest Public Health England figures.

It brings Harrogate’s total number of cases to 19,271 since the start of the pandemic. The district has a seven-day infection rate of 734 per 100,000 people.

The rate in the Harrogate district is the highest in Yorkshire and the eleventh highest in England.

Public health officials said today school pupils were driving the rapid increase in infections in the Harrogate district.

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Headteachers have been urged to bring back face masks and postpone after-school activities.

Despite the rise in infections, deaths and hospitalisations remain lower than previous waves with 15 covid-positive patients at Harrogate District Hospital on Monday.

According to the latest NHS data, the hospital in Harrogate has not reported any new coronavirus deaths today.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust could take over the running of health services for young people in Northumberland.

If approved, 95 health visitors and 30 school nurses will transfer from Northumberland County Council to the trust.

A survey on the proposal is available as part of the consultation, which runs until August 15.

Since 2015, local authorities have been responsible for the delivery of health visiting and school nursing services. But Northumberland County Council decided to continue providing the services in partnership with the NHS.

Until now it has done so with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust but the contract between the two organisations ends in September.

The county council has now identified Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust as its preferred provider for a new contract from October.

The council said in a consultation document it wanted the Harrogate trust to take over Northumberland’s services because it had experience in delivering the services to young people in the north east and had shown it was an “engaged and supportive partner”.

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Although, the council’s statutory duties would be handed over to the Harrogate trust, the local authority would still remain ultimately responsible for ensuring they are met.

A separate consultation with staff will take place in the coming months.

The consultation responses will be shared with the county council’s cabinet and the Harrogate trust before a final decision is made.