Younger people now the most likely Doncaster group to catch coronavirus

The borough has seen its number of cases plunge to some of the lowest in the region in recent weeks compared to many neighbouring areas such as parts of West Yorkshire.

But those who are testing positive have been among the younger end of the community, say health officials.

Dr David Crichton, chairman of the Doncaster NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The small number of cases that we get tend to be in their 20s and 30s age group, and we want to focus the message on those age groups, who perhaps are not as strict about wearing masks and social distancing and hand hygiene.

"That is a group where we are seeing more who are testing positive.

"They may not have a high risk of complications or illness, but they will have elderly relatives, and it is that group that we need to protect.

"But I’m really pleased with where we are in terms of the low number of cases at present.”

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He said the most recent figures for Doncaster had placed it at 3.9 cases per 100,000 per seven days, which was around 10 times lower than Kirklees, in West Yorkshire.

He expects social distancing measures to remain in place for a long time, along with wearing face masks and hand washing.

The measures that have been taken to restrict the spread of the coronavirus have also affected other illnesses, believes Dr Crichton, with fewer colds.

He said a lot had been learned from the local medical services from responding to the illness when it first arrived in the spring, and local agencies had worked well together.

Measures had already been put in place aimed at closer working between organisations such as the NHS and the council, which he said had previously helped with the borough’s response to the floods which hit several communities in November last year.

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