The Harrogate district’s covid infection rate is on course to reach record levels this month, as almost all legal restrictions on social contact are lifted.
Social distancing rules which have governed people’s lives for over a year have finally ended today, with face masks no longer mandatory in shops and on public transport, limits on gathering gone and the work from home guidance ended.
Nightclubs, theatres and restaurants can also fully reopen, while pubs are no longer restricted to table service only.
But with covid cases continuing to soar, there are renewed warnings about pressures on key sectors of the economy and the NHS.
The weekly rate of infections in the Harrogate district currently stands at 495 cases per 100,000 people and appears certain to pass the previous peak of 497 in January.
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Meanwhile, today’s Public Health England figures showed a further 103 cases have been reported across the district.
Just five hospital patients
But the number of people currently in hospital with covid is nowhere near the levels from previous peaks – with just five patients in Harrogate as of last Wednesday.
There has also not been a virus-related death at the district hospital in more than three months.
With vaccines providing protection against serious illness, the effects of the virus are very different this time round. But the big unknown is how far this rise in cases will go before the virus slows down or goes into reverse.
Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, said in a letter to residents last week that although restrictions were ending, people should still “act responsibly” as he also encouraged the continued wearing of face coverings in busy spaces.
He said:
Baby steps for Harrogate bars on Freedom Day“I can sum up our approach in two words: respect and protect. We can show respect for and offer protection to ourselves and those around us by continuing to do the simple things.
“Please continue to wear your face covering in crowded spaces outdoors or indoors.
“Businesses and shops need to do all they can to protect their staff, as well as customers. They don’t want to have to close because staff are self-isolating, so wearing a facemask not only protects you, it protects other people and supports local business.
“Likewise with social distancing, some people may not feel as confident as you, so giving them space is important. Regular hand washing and sticking to well-ventilated places remains important, too.
“Above all else, it is crucial that you have your vaccination. Get your first jab as soon as you’re able – and make sure you get your second jab, too. That continues to be our best line of defence.”
The sight of queues at the bar were nowhere to be seen at lunchtime in Harrogate today, despite the lifting of all remaining social distancing restrictions.
Drinkers have got used to table service over the past 12 months and it appears many pubs in the town centre have opted to keep the measure.
I took a walk around the town this afternoon to gauge the feeling as Harrogate experienced Freedom Day.
The atmosphere seemed to be one of caution, rather than cramming to get to the bar.
It felt as though many bar owners had one eye on the soaring covid rate, which is now almost at its highest ever.
Read more:
- Vaccine passports for nightclubs ‘impractical’, says Viper Rooms boss
- People urged to respect businesses’ wishes as face mask order dropped
In Wetherspoons, punters were allowed to go up to the bar but they also had the option to stay in their seat to order via a QR code.
However, screens are in place between tables to protect customers and hand sanitiser remains at the entrance, along with a queuing system.
Wetherspoons in Harrogate, which still had a queueing system outside and hand sanitiser on hand this afternoon.
The keeping of table service and hand sanitiser was replicated across bars in town.
North Bar on Cheltenham Parade, has gone one step further by encouraging customers on its Facebook page to wear masks while moving around the bar.
Similarly, bar staff are on hand at Threes’ A Crowd, West Park, to serve customers where they sit — though they are still welcome to order at the bar.
The feeling among some pubs owners in the town centre is probably best summed up by the Disappearing Chin, on Beulah Street.
On Sunday, the bar took down its screen which had covered the length of the bar since last year.
However, despite taking the decision to remove it as restrictions were lifted, a post on its Facebook said:
People urged to respect businesses’ wishes as face mask order dropped“It’s been so tough with all the restrictions and unfortunately it doesn’t feel good that they’re finally being lifted.
“We’re excited to get back to normal but we’re not pushing it.”
A Harrogate business organisation has urged people to respect the choices of traders as the legal requirement to wear a face mask is dropped.
Businesses across the district have been left to advise customers on whether or not to wear a face covering.
It comes as today has been dubbed “Freedom Day” because the remaining restrictions, including one metre plus rule and reopening of all venues without restrictions on numbers, are lifted.
However, while the legal requirement to wear a face mask has been removed, businesses are still encouraging people to wear one.
Matthew Chapman, manager of Harrogate BID, said some firms were keen to minimise risk of staff having to self-isolate.
He said:
“This is very much a matter of choice for both businesses and customers. Whilst some will immediately discard social distancing and enforced mask wearing, others will take a more cautious approach.
“I know of a number of retail and hospitality businesses will retain the existing measures, as they are concerned about staff having to self-isolate and are keen to minimise this risk.
“We also politely ask that customers respect the wishes of individual businesses, and not to take any frustrations they may have out on staff members.”
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North Bar, on Cheltenham Parade, is among the businesses encouraging customers to wear a face mask. It posted on its Facebook page that staff would be wearing face coverings and asked guests to do the same.
Elsewhere, Neil Mendoza, general manager at The Studley Hotel and Orchid Restaurant, told the Stray Ferret that staff would continue to wear face masks and social distance in the hotel and restaurant.
He added that he took the decision as he was worried about staff having to self isolate:
“I am particularly worried that it [covid] may hit one of my employees, which could affect business.
“For the safety of my team, we have made a decision to continue with wearing face masks from July 19 onwards for our staff and social distancing in our hotel and restaurant until we feel that it’s safe, as we are also concerned and aware that some of our guests would still want to feel safe when they come to visit.”
Meanwhile, Harrogate Bus Company has recommended that passengers continue to wear face masks on its services.
Alex Hornby, chief executive of the company, said:
“We want everyone to feel comfortable and confident every time they travel with us, and throughout the pandemic we have encouraged everyone to support us in helping to keep each other safe.
“With this in mind, we recommend that our customers continue to wear a face covering when travelling with us, especially at busy times, and just as they may choose to do in other busy places.
“A limited number of people have been legally exempt from wearing a face covering under the existing restrictions, and we ask everyone to remember that this may be why some customers will choose not to do so from Monday.”
Earlier this week, the Rail Delivery Group, the industry body that represents Northern and Transpennine services, said passengers should follow government guidance and wear a face covering if a carriage is busy.
LNER has said it will continue to ask customers to wear face coverings and to reserve a seat on its trains in order to avoid overcrowding.
Will you still be wearing a face mask even though restrictions have been lifted? Let us know at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.