Rate is falling but quarter of total Covid-19 deaths in Doncaster came in last three weeks

The number of Covid-19 deaths in Doncaster has been ‘increasing quite dramatically’ over the last few weeks but the infection rate is starting to fall, council bosses have said.
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Laurie Mott, head of public health intelligence at Doncaster Council, gave an update to councillors at a recent meeting and said up to present data, around 9,500 people have been infected with Covid-19.

Mr Mott said there had been 412 Covid-19 related deaths but 113 had come just in the last three weeks alone.

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“There has been a rapid increase from early September to the middle and end of October but small reduction on the previous week at the start of November,” he said.

The town has had 412 Covid-19 related deaths but 113 have come just in the last three weeks alone. Picture: Dean AtkinsThe town has had 412 Covid-19 related deaths but 113 have come just in the last three weeks alone. Picture: Dean Atkins
The town has had 412 Covid-19 related deaths but 113 have come just in the last three weeks alone. Picture: Dean Atkins

“Doncaster peaked around three weeks ago and since then the seven-day rate has been falling from over 500 infections per 100,000 to 496 per 100,000, However this is above the Yorkshire & Humber average at 440 and the England average of 243.

Mr Mott said they were monitoring 175 ‘live incidents’ and 29 ‘potential outbreaks’. The council’s director of public health, Dr Rupert Suckling said these could be from institutions such as schools, care homes and businesses.

Figures also show that Doncaster has a high rate of people testing positive for Covid-19 when they come for a test. The rate stands at 17.4 per cent which is said to be slightly down on the previous week but is well above the target of five per cent.

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Mr Mott also said current Covid-19 hotspots included Bentley, Edlington and Rossington but rates are ‘starting to fall’ in these areas.

The council is also becoming ‘increasingly concerned’ with the Hyde Park area which has rising rates of infection.

Dr Rupert Suckling told the meeting: “What this data tells me is that we’ve still got widespread community transmission but it is good the rate is coming down but those positive cases will spill through into the hospital in the coming weeks.

“It took us three of four weeks to have an infection rate of 50 per 100,000 to 500 per 100,000 and it will take us significantly longer for it to come down. It’s good the rate is falling but we are definitely not out of the woods.

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