Doncaster told to ‘drink responsibly’ as pubs prepare to serve final pints before Tier 3 lockdown

From tomorrow, Saturday, October 24, any pubs not serving substantial meals alongside drinks will be forced to shut as the new ‘very high’ coronavirus alert level restrictions come into force across Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley.

Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals trust today issued a message to anyone visiting the region’s pubs on the final day of Tier 2 restrictions.

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“We've experienced some very busy days within our emergency departments throughout the past few days. Please use this service wisely and only when it's a genuine emergency,” it said.

"We also ask that those heading out tonight before we move into ‘very high alert', please drink responsibily and head home at 10pm. We are relying on your support during these extremely challenging times to give us the headroom we need to care for those who are critically ill with Covid-19. Please help us save lives.”

The trust, which runs the Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Montagu and Bassetlaw hospitals, yesterday revealed it now had 161 patients with Covid-19, following another rise in admissions – more than it had been treating at any point during the first wave of the pandemic.

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Of those patients, seven people required critical care, four were on mechanical ventilation, 14 required non-invasive ventilation and six were receiving oxygen.

And it told how another five people had sadly passed away with Covid-19 having played a ‘significant factor’ in their deaths.

Hospital chiefs urged people to abide by the new tougher Tier 3 rules to help slow the spread of the virus and encouraged people to get a flu jab this year even if they have never had one before.

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"Covid-19 can affect everybody, but in particular the vulnerable amongst us, so please keep yourselves and your loved ones safe and remember hands, face and space,” they added.

“Thank you for continuing to support your local hospitals and healthcare workers, together we will again flatten the curve and save lives.”