Number of patients in Doncaster hospitals with coronavirus drops yet again

In its weekly update, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said it was now caring for just four Covid-19 patients – down from six last week and with all of them at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

A spokesman said: “At the time of writing, there are just four patients with us who have tested positive for COVID-19.

"This is one of the lowest rates of admission since the pandemic began, and for the first time in some time, Bassetlaw Hospital does not have any active cases of the illness.

“Keep up the good work everyone - stick to the guidance as it currently stands and let's not let this slip as things begin to open back up and we reclaim some normality back into our lives. Be sensible, stay safe and put your arm forward when called for a jab.”

The numbers are the lowest since last September.

However, while the number of hospital cases is reducing, health chiefs are still concerned about the number of infections in the community, with Doncaster being identifed as a Covid hotspot earlier this week and at risk of a potential local lockdown.

Environment secretary George Eustice said the Government "can't rule out" having to reintroduce local restrictions to crush surges in infections.

While rates are dropping in Doncaster, the town still has some of the highest infection rates in the country.

On Monday, the next stage of easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions is set to come in, with indoor mixing allowed once again.

But ministers are concerned about the emergence of 34 hotspots where the number of new cases is running at twice the national average.

Mr Eustice said the Government is "monitoring carefully" the emergence of new hotspots but admitted it's unsure why they've emerged.

He said: "We're doing a lot of surveillance testing, both in schools with regular testing at home, but also now in work places.

"So this does enable us to pick up these hotspots. We're not sure quite what's driving it.

"Whether it's particular variants that are taking hold there, whether it's that in certain areas people are perhaps being a bit too lax about the restrictions that remain in place.”