Coast fines are more than double anywhere else in the county

Eight coronavirus fines were handed out in Scarborough at the weekend after police were called to an indoor gathering.

The eight were the only fines handed out anywhere in North Yorkshire in the last week as the lockdown restrictions continue to be eased.

Since the start of the third lockdown in January more than 630 Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued in the Scarborough borough for breaches of the Covid-regulations. The figure is more than double that of York, the next highest hotspot.

Chief Inspector Charlotte Bloxham, North Yorkshire Police’s operational lead for the Coronavirus pandemic, revealed the latest issue on the coast.

She said: “It is very pleasing that the roadmap out of lockdown is going according to plan and we can move with confidence to Step 3 on Monday.

“This includes allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 30 people; the Rule of Six or two households will be introduced for indoor settings; pubs and restaurants will be able to provide indoor hospitality within the Covid-safe guidelines; and people will be able to stay overnight at hotels and other accommodation.

“It is still important to keep following the key safety measures of washing hands, wearing face coverings, maintaining social distance when out in public or using public transport, and getting as much fresh air into your lungs and home as possible.

“We must not jeopardise the many months of collective effort, struggle and sacrifice which has brought us ever closer to a more normal way of living.”

The number of patients in hospitals across North Yorkshire has fallen to 18, with none left in Scarborough. North Yorkshire’s director of Public Health, Louise Wallace, has called on people to continue to be mindful of the virus as they start to socialise in greater numbers.