After what feels like an eternity of bad news, two areas of Yorkshire have officially been deemed “Coronavirus free” – but that doesn’t mean we should get too excited and start messing things up.
Reporting no cases of the virus for two weeks, Scarborough officially has an infection rate of zero, with Ryedale joining them as fantastic examples with a seven-day infection rate of zero, too.
The two Yorkshire spots join a list of 18 places in the UK that have reported no new cases, while other Yorkshire areas such as Rotherham, the Kirklees and Redcar and Cleveland continue to tackle high infection rates.
The infection rate is based on known cases of the virus which have been identified through proper lab and community testing, so while it’s exciting to see two Yorkshire spots managing the virus well, it’s still possible both Scarborough and Ryedale residents are carrying the virus without knowing it. Infection rates can go up or down at any time, and are completely dependent on people with (or without) symptoms acting fast and getting tested.
To continue with the UK’s efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19, all members of the public in England will now be required by law to wear face masks in public spaces such as shops, supermarkets, banks, post offices, and when using public transport.
