Harrogate and North Yorkshire's hopes of being placed in tier one restrictions when lockdown ends next week received a boost today as daily covid infections continued to fall sharply.

The Harrogate district recorded just 11 new positive cases — the lowest daily number since October 1, according to Public Health England figures today.

It takes total cases since the pandemic began to 3,420.

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire as a whole recorded just a further 115 cases.

The county is expected to learn which tier it will come under in the coming days as part of the government’s new restrictions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined the new system to MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon.

It will see the first tier toughened up with people encouraged to work from home, while pubs and bars in tier two areas will be asked to close unless they serve substantial meals.

Last orders at pubs will now be called at 10pm, with drinkers allowed until 11pm to finish their drinks.

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Read more:

• Harrogate district covid infections hit five-week low


• Tier one ‘did not work’, says North Yorkshire public health boss

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Tier three, the highest restrictions, will see hospitality closed and no mixing of households both indoors and outdoors.

The county’s public health bosses had called for stronger restrictions on the lowest tier after the last system “did not really work”.

Regions across the country are due to learn which restrictions they fall under on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate district’s seven-day rate has also fallen below 200 for the first time in a month to 190 per 100,000 people.

A further two coronavirus deaths have also been recorded at Harrogate District Hospital in the latest NHS England figures.

One death was recorded on November 21, while another happened on November 17. It takes the total number of deaths at the hospital up to 95.