POLICE have issued only seven fines for Covid breaches in North Yorkshire in the past week.

The rule breaches all happened at the weekend and were all people holding indoor gatherings, Chief Inspector Charlotte Bloxham, North Yorkshire Police’s operational lead for the Coronavirus pandemic, told a press briefing today.

She said: “During the past week North Yorkshire Police has issued only seven Covid-related Fixed Penalty Notices.

"They occurred at the weekend and they were all for indoor gatherings – four in Ripon and three in Scarborough.

"In line with the gradual easing of the lockdown, our focus is very much on reacting to high-risk activities such as indoor gatherings.

"It is in such settings that the Coronavirus is most likely to spread, which is why it is so important to keep following the health protection regulations and the guidance around washing hands, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distance.

"It is also important to get as much fresh air as possible, both from being outdoors and letting it into your home by opening windows. But please make sure your home is always secure from opportunistic thieves.

"By following these simple steps, we can all play our part in reducing the threat from the virus and safely ease our way out of the lockdown.

"In the meantime, please avoid mixing households indoors, and keep to the “Rule of 6” or two households when meeting outdoors or in private gardens.

"Regarding outdoor hospitality, we’ve not had any significant incidents or issues to deal with since it was allowed in the Step 2 changes from Monday, April 12.

"Clearly, our town and city centres are much busier now than they have been in recent times, as well in the tourist spots along the coast and in the countryside.

"We are working alongside our local authority and licensing partners to ensure there is compliance with the Covid-secure measures at pubs and restaurants. This includes the requirement to be seated and keeping to the “Rule of 6” or two households even when outdoors.

We have the resources and patrols in place to ensure the health protection regulations are maintained as well as our day-to-day policing demands.”