11 more Covid-19 deaths in Doncaster as infection rate rises to one of highest in England

A total of 330 people have now died in Doncaster since the start of the pandemic – as the rate of infection rose to 531.9 cases per 100,000 people.

But health chiefs have also expressed hope that the rate is starting to flatten out and that Doncaster was ‘starting to turn the curve.’

Newly released NHS figures show 11 more deaths recorded in the Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust in the last 24 hours.

The Trust covers Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Worksop’s Bassetlaw Hospital and Mexborough’s Montagu Hospital.

Dr Rupert Suckling, Doncaster’s Director of Public Health said the infection rate for the seven days from October 24-30 was ‘not good news’ and has urged people to follow the rules to bring down infection rates.

He said: "We should stay at home as much as possible.

"I realise that these restrictions will be very challenging for us all over the next four weeks, but we must try and do all we can to keep our infection rates as low as possible.

"The current infection rate for Doncaster is one of the highest in England and in Yorkshire and the Humber.

"This is not good news, but there is some evidence that this rate may be starting to flatten and we may be starting to turn the curve. So I want to thank you for all the efforts that you've made to support us and to help that rate flatten but I do want to ask us all to keep doing what we're doing.

"Keep maintaining our distance, keep washing our hands and wearing face coverings to see how quickly we can bring that number down. If we can all remember face, space and hands, we will have a better chance of leaving the national restrictions as quickly as possible.

"I'm also going write to everyone in the borough who is clinically extremely vulnerable and offer them advice about how they can protect themselves during the winter months and I'll be also writing to local businesses, care homes, schools and the voluntary, community and faith sector to offer reminders to them about the restrictions.

"The advice as always remains if you have symptoms - a new persistent cough, a high temperature or a loss of or change to your sense of smell or taste that you should self isolate and organise to test. You are allowed to leave your house for the purposes of getting a test as long as you return straight away.

“Together I'm sure we can do what we need to, to bring down the infection rate. So let's do it for Doncaster.”

Yesterday, health chiefs at DBTHT said the number of cases in Doncaster was ‘stabilising’ with 188 patients under its care – down from more than 200 earlier this week.