Everybody in Rotherham to get tested for coronavirus as infection rate 'is still too high'

The enhanced testing programme from the area was announced today by Rotherham's Director of Public Health Teresa Roche, who said that the infection rate in the town was not falling as quickly as other parts of the country.

It follows an outbreak at a business in the town, which was forced to close its premises for two weeks. Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has not released the identity of the business.

The infection rate in Rotherham remains the fourth-highest in the country, with 16.6 new cases per 100,000 of the population in the seven days to July 6.

Ms Roche said: “The number of people becoming infected with coronavirus in Rotherham and across South Yorkshire is still too high and is not reducing as quickly as in other parts of the country.

"Because of this we are changing our testing strategy to include tests for people with no symptoms of coronavirus (asymptomatic testing).

"These additional measures are being put in place to try to bring down the rate of infections in the borough as quickly as possible. This extra effort will help us to identify more people with coronavirus, including those who may not be showing symptoms.”

To enable more people to get tested a new 7-day drive-thru testing site has been set up at the old bus depot on Midland Road, and a Mobile Testing Unit will be available at Herringthorpe Playing Fields until Friday, July 17.

Ms Roche added: “More testing will inevitably mean more positive cases being found but this gives us a better chance of getting on top of the spread of the virus.”

The extra testing comes in addition to the guidelines in place or keeping people safe.

Ms Roche reminded people to keep two metres apart from people form other households whenever possible, wear PPE when this is not possible, wash hand regularly and to self-isolate and book a test immediately if you show any symptoms.

You can visit www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or call 119 to book a test.