Follow the rules says Doncaster health boss as town records 'worryingly high' Covid rate

Dr Rupert Suckling, Director of Public Health in Doncaster, has pleaded with people to follow the rules and stay at home as deaths in Doncaster continue to rise.

There have now been nearly 700 Covid-19 related deaths in the town since the start of the pandemic last March, with more than 1,500 people successfully allowed home after being treated in hospital.

He said: “Our infection rates across all age groups remain similar to last week - our latest data shows our infection rate is 359.7 per 100,000 people for the period 2-8 January.

“This is still a worryingly high figure, so I would once again strongly encourage everyone to stay at home and only go out for essential reasons - shopping, work – if you cannot work at home – or exercise. It’s vital that we do everything we can to reduce the infection rates.

“A reminder as well that you will be contacted directly by the NHS to get vaccinated, so please do not call your doctor to find out when yours will be.

Meanwhile, local health chiefs are continuing to drive forward with community testing in Doncaster in a bid to drive down the town's Covid rates.

He added: “This means we can now push on with providing asymptomatic residents with access to regular, rapid testing, in key areas of the borough, identifying more people who are carrying the virus without showing any symptoms.