THE number of Covid patients across hospitals in North Yorkshire has fallen over the last week, the NHS has confirmed.

Data from the North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) shows that there are 18 patients in hospitals across the county, of which two are in intensive care (ICU).

There are two patients in Harrogate Hospital, three in York, none in Scarborough and 13 in South Tees. On the North Yorkshire borders there are two patients in Darlington Memorial Hospital and one patient in Airedale.

Speaking on the vaccination programme, Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire CCG, said: "The programme continues to make steady pace. There is currently a strong focus on delivering second vaccinations in North Yorkshire and York and the Government has assured us that supply will be available to enable every adult to be offered a Covid vaccination by the end of July.

"The national booking service is still offering vaccination to those aged 40 and over and where supply is available GP practices continue to invite people 45 to 49 for vaccinations at local centres. We expect invitations to further age cohorts to be issued in the weeks ahead, although we do not yet have dates for this.

"As of yesterday we had vaccinated over 452,000 people across North Yorkshire and York and over 242,000 people had also received a second dose."