Doncaster health boss backs Tier 3 decision despite town's falling Covid rates

Doncaster’s health boss has backed the decision for the town to go into Tier 3, despite falling coronavirus rates.
Dr Rupert SucklingDr Rupert Suckling
Dr Rupert Suckling

In his weekly update on the town’s coronavirus situation, Dr Rupert Suckling, the Director of Public Health in Doncaster has called in people to make a ‘significant effort’ to shift Doncaster into Tier 2 before Christmas.

He said: “Our rate has dropped to 253 infections per 100,000 for the period 14-20 November and the number of people testing positive has fallen now to under 11%. This is a massive effort by everyone and I would urge you to keep doing the right things.

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“You will know by now that Doncaster will re-enter Tier 3 or Very High restrictions on December 2 following the Government’s assessment. This is a decision that none of us locally have been involved in and has been entirely determined by the Government.

“It is however based on some key criteria - our case numbers across all age groups, cases in those aged over 60, the rate of rise or fall in infections, the percentage of those tested who have the virus, and current and projected pressures on the NHS locally.

“When I look at those figures, I do believe that going into Tier 3 again is appropriate from a public health perspective and given current circumstances we continue to bring down our infection rate and reduce the impact on our communities, our health services and local people.

"These criteria will next be reviewed on 16 December and if all these are in a better position, then we could be in Tier 2 before Christmas. This has to be a significant effort now.

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“I would ask that you follow the restrictions’ guidance which you can find on the Government’s website and social media channels.

“As I have previously mentioned, Doncaster is to pick up local Test and Trace work. This will help us to find local infections, hot spots and areas of stubborn infection rates and act on the ground to break these chains of transmissions. We will be ready from early December to act upon this and there will be more information about this shortly.

“Keep this up. If we keep getting our infection rate down we hope that we’ll be able to open up Doncaster in the future.”