Health boss urges residents to follow rules as Doncaster revealed as one of only 13 areas in England where Covid cases are RISING

Doncaster’s health boss has made a move to reassure residents- and urged them to carry on following lockdown rules- after the town was revealed to be one of only 13 areas in the UK were Covid cases are rising.
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Rupert Suckling, director of Public Health at Doncaster Council, said the infection rate in the town was currently 187.6 per 100,000 of the population during the week leading to February 12- an increase on the previous week.

It means Doncaster along with Copeland, Newark & Sherwood, NW Leicestershire, Boston, Tameside, Lincoln, NE Lincolnshire, West Lindsey, South Lakeland, Exeter, East Devon and North Devon is one of the only areas across the country where cases are on the up.

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Mr Suckling said this could be put down to the fact the ‘Kent’ variant is currently the most dominant in the borough, meaning outbreaks are more likely due how to transmissable the new strain is.

Dr Fiona Sheppard administers the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to a patient at a temporary vaccination centre in the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)Dr Fiona Sheppard administers the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to a patient at a temporary vaccination centre in the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Dr Fiona Sheppard administers the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to a patient at a temporary vaccination centre in the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

He added: “Over the past week we have seen rates across the borough fluctuate quite a lot, seeing slight increases on some days.

“Although monitoring numbers is important to understand how we’re doing, it is also vital that we understand the context behind these numbers.

"We are working closely with businesses across Doncaster to look at how they can make workplaces as safe as possible, this includes accessing asymptomatic testing for their staff and ensuring strong policies around things such as social distancing and hand hygiene are in place.”

Dr Rupert Suckling has urged the town to work together to keep cases down.Dr Rupert Suckling has urged the town to work together to keep cases down.
Dr Rupert Suckling has urged the town to work together to keep cases down.
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Boris Johnson is due to receive the data which will ultimately determine how quickly the UK can leave lockdown.

The Prime Minister will then likely present the finalised ‘roadmap’ plan to ministers on Monday (February 22) morning, the House of Commons at lunch time and then the nation in a televised press conference in the evening.

He added: “As we prepare for the Prime Minister’s roadmap announcement next week, it has never been more important that we follow the basics and do all we can to keep case numbers as low as possible locally.

"Together, let’s keep doing everything we can to make a difference. Let’s do it for Doncaster.”

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.