Coronavirus has re-appeared in Doncaster in vulnerable age group, warns public health boss after two die of Covid in borough

Coronavirus cases have re-appeared in the vulnerable over 65s age group in Doncaster, the borough’s public health boss has warned.
By David Kessen
Published 27th Sep 2020, 07:00 GMT
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Dr Rupert Suckling, director of public health in Doncaster, has warned of the re-appearance and says cases in the borough are now in the top third nationally.

His comments come after a week which saw Doncaster’s first two deaths from Covid since August 4.

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He said: “Although up to recently we have experienced low infection rates compared to the national average, we are now seeing a significant increase in the numbers which is mirroring the national trend in cases doubling weekly. Our current rate is over 40 infections per 100,000 people, a stark increase to the single figures that we were seeing just over a month ago.

Medical staff wearing full PPE (personal protective equipment), including a face mask, long aprons, and gloves as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, work on an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ward treating patients with COVID-19, at Frimley Park Hospital in Frimley, southwest England on May 22, 2020. - Britain's number of deaths "involving" the coronavirus has risen to 46,000, substantially higher than the 36,914 fatalities officially reported so far, according to a statistical update released Tuesday. (Photo by Steve Parsons / POOL / AFP) (Photo by STEVE PARSONS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Medical staff wearing full PPE (personal protective equipment), including a face mask, long aprons, and gloves as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, work on an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ward treating patients with COVID-19, at Frimley Park Hospital in Frimley, southwest England on May 22, 2020. - Britain's number of deaths "involving" the coronavirus has risen to 46,000, substantially higher than the 36,914 fatalities officially reported so far, according to a statistical update released Tuesday. (Photo by Steve Parsons / POOL / AFP) (Photo by STEVE PARSONS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Medical staff wearing full PPE (personal protective equipment), including a face mask, long aprons, and gloves as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, work on an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ward treating patients with COVID-19, at Frimley Park Hospital in Frimley, southwest England on May 22, 2020. - Britain's number of deaths "involving" the coronavirus has risen to 46,000, substantially higher than the 36,914 fatalities officially reported so far, according to a statistical update released Tuesday. (Photo by Steve Parsons / POOL / AFP) (Photo by STEVE PARSONS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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“Our case numbers are more comparable with case numbers seen in the region and Doncaster now is in the top third of all infection rates in the country. It’s important to note that as well as seeing infections in young people, we are also unfortunately seeing a few infections in people over the age of 65 and this is where the infection is at it's most serious.”

He added although there had been a number of cases in school-age children this week, all borough schools were managing the situation well.

"I met with head teachers this week and will remain in regular contact with them,” he added.

Rupert Suckling, Doncaster Director of Public health. Picture: Marie Caley NDFP-26-07-19-RoundTable-MentalHealth-2Rupert Suckling, Doncaster Director of Public health. Picture: Marie Caley NDFP-26-07-19-RoundTable-MentalHealth-2
Rupert Suckling, Doncaster Director of Public health. Picture: Marie Caley NDFP-26-07-19-RoundTable-MentalHealth-2
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He said: “Please do remember if you have a child who is sent home from school who is told to self isolate it means that they do need to stay at home, or in their own garden and they should not have visitors in their house. If your child is not showing symptoms the rest of the family do not need to self isolate and neither does that child need a test.

“I can’t reinforce enough that each and every one of us needs to do everything we possibly can to break these chains of infections, that means self isolating if we have symptoms and booking a test, but also keeping up social distance to 2m wherever possible when we're out and about.

He urged people to download the the NHS test and trace app.

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Related topics:Rupert SucklingDoncasterNHS