AS coronavirus infection rates continue to rise across North Yorkshire, first responder agencies are making the strongest appeal to the county’s communities to try and prevent more severe intervention measures.

Richard Flinton, chairman of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience forum, which includes the emergency services, councils and health, said the county was at a tipping point and it was the responsibility of each and every one of us to play our part and follow distancing guidelines so we can continue going about our lives and supporting the local economy.

The appeal comes on the back of surging infection rates in Craven, particularly South Craven and the Skipton area.

The local resilience forum says it is issuing the call as part of its strategy to act early to get on top of infection rates here to avoid the enforced interventions being seen in many other northern areas.

As most infection can be linked to household and social contact, Mr Flinton called on residents across the age range to pull together.

He said: “Rather than wait for Government intervention and the imposition of more serious lockdown measures being faced by people in many parts of the north of England, we are appealing to people to take the necessary precautions now.

“We must not risk everything we have achieved in North Yorkshire by letting our guard down. Social distancing and hand washing remain the best defences against Covid – with face coverings where required. We also urge everybody to keep to the rule of six, inside as well as out.

“We would also like to go a little further than that to protect our schools, businesses and freedoms here – we are not waiting for more areas to go onto a watch list to step up our response. We would ask that you wear a face mask or covering in any areas where social distancing is difficult – even when outside."

He added: "If you are in a narrow street or other busy area please cover your face – be part of Team North Yorkshire and help keep our county open. Protect your friends and family and keep our High Streets and hospitality sector safe and open.

“We will all need to work hard together if we are to avoid enforced national interventions, which may prevent us from being with our friends and family.

“It can be done. Rates have come down in Selby and Scarborough which are on the watch-list as areas of concern. That is a great achievement by communities in those districts. Thank you for all your efforts and sacrifice. We have shown we can pull together to beat Covid.”

The Director of Public Health for North Yorkshire Dr Lincoln Sargeant says vigilance around social distancing, the wearing of masks and hand hygiene could not be more critical.

He said: “In light of the escalating community infection rates in these areas, and across the region and UK, and the very real threat to some of our residents who are prone to the most severe symptoms if they contract the virus, I am asking everyone to take responsibility. We are seeing infections rise in our care settings and we must all protect those most at risk from the more severe medical impacts of Covid-19.

“We have already suspended care home visiting, which is incredibly hard to bear for care home residents and their families who have only just started to enjoy the freedom of being able to see each other again. We would like to find ways of restoring visits in a Covid-safe way this month and we can all play a part in helping that to happen by getting the infection rate down again.

“So please, alongside the hands, face, space guidance - wear a face covering in crowded places outdoors and avoid crowded areas where social distancing is difficult. Please encourage your friends and family to follow suit. As the virus is transmitting from person to person the fewer social contacts people have the better. By doing this we will help to restrict the progression of Covid and help avoid wider measures which could impact on schools, jobs and local businesses."

He added: “If you have Covid symptoms you must isolate until you can take a test.

“To shops, pubs and restaurants I ask you to keep on top of your Covid-19 security, for example, with hand sanitiser provided at entry to, and within, buildings; strict limitations on the numbers of people inside a building at any one time; and one-way systems – where they are not already in place. Ensure you are rigorous in collecting contacts from customers.

“Event organisers please re-think any indoor or outdoor events that involve more than 30 people; to care settings please continue to ensure that you limit agency staff usage and/or only use the same agency staff and stop any sharing of staff between care homes. We must all play our part now.”