Barnsley has highest rate of Covid infections in South Yorkshire

The borough currently has 162 cases per 100,000 people.

This above Sheffield’s rate of 90, Rotherham’s 142 and Doncaster’s 103.

Julia Burrows, director of public health for Barnsley, says the constant high rates are “frustrating”, although the figure had dropped slightly from last week.

“We use every opportunity offered to us, such as community testing, providing financial support to people who need to isolate via our local discretionary grant and Covid-19 local support service, the use of Covid marshals, and support and advice to businesses including supermarkets, on operating safely, said Ms Burrows, in a move to reassure residents.

“We have not seen any single area of concern in Barnsley, the cases are made up of small pockets across the borough.

“Our cases rates are often a reflection of our population – high-density households, a large number of people who have to leave their homes to work in factories and warehouses, an older population, and people living with long term health conditions.

“While our cases rates remain high, we are seeing far fewer deaths and hospital pressures than we have done for months. There are significantly fewer people in hospital with Covid than we’ve seen for a while which suggests both the vaccine and the extended lockdown have really started to have an impact.

“Sticking to the basics and getting tested and getting vaccinated when we are eligible to do so is key to sustaining progress and enable the continued lifting of restrictions – something we are all keen to see happen.”

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