Wednesday 30th December 2020
Residents Bulletin
Due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19), we are providing regular email updates to let you know about the latest information we have on local and national measures to contain the virus, any changes to local services and support that’s available.
If you do not wish to receive these updates please click on “unsubscribe” at the bottom of the page.
Further information is available from www.rotherham.gov.uk/coronavirus
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Stay home, stay safe this New Year
With pubs, restaurants and other attractions closed due to Covid-19 restrictions, we are asking people to stay at home to celebrate the new year safely.
By continuing to follow the Covid restrictions, including not mixing households, we can all have a happy and safe new year. If we all continue to follow the advice, we can look forward to a much better 2021.
www.rotherham.gov.uk/coronavirus
Rotherham remains under Tier 3 restrictions
Today the government confirmed that Rotherham is remaining in Tier 3 at the moment, which reflects that we are still an area of Very High risk.
This means that we are asking everyone to:
- Stay local and avoid travel as much as you can
- Don’t mix with other households in your home or garden
- Continue to follow the key health advice of washing your hands often, wearing face coverings when required and staying 2 metres apart.
- If you have any symptoms at all, or any reason to be concerned, you should arrange to get tested as soon as possible.
See this video for further advice on what you can do to reduce the risk of spreading Coronovirus.
You can find out more about tier 3 restrictions in place on the Government website. There are also some useful frequently asked questions about the current restrictions on the Rotherham Council website.
Following today’s announcement, the majority of the population of England is now under stricter, Tier 4 restrictions because of rapidly increasing infection rates. This includes areas in the East Midlands which border the south of our borough.
No one should now be leaving a Tier 4 to travel to another part of the country. For anyone who has recently arrived from a Tier 4 area, we strongly recommend they avoid contact with anybody from other households.
If we all continue to follow the advice over these next few months, we can all do our bit to ensure that Rotherham is not placed under tougher restrictions.
Current infection rate and hospital status
The latest available infection rate data (up to Christmas Eve) shows that the number of Covid infections in Rotherham stands at 234 per 100,000 population.
This shows that the local rate is stabilising. However, with the number of people getting tested usually reducing at weekends and bank holidays, infection trends are likely to be more difficult to predict until into the new year.
There are still more than 100 Covid-19 inpatients in Rotherham Hospital which continues to put services under stress.
Getting tested
All four local testing sites in Rotherham are open every day, including New Year’s Day.
It’s really important that you book an appointment for a Covid-19 test straight away if you are displaying any of the following symptoms, even if they are mild:
Children’s return to school to be staggered
The Government has announced todaythat Secondary Schools will re-open to pupils on a staggered basis following the Christmas and New Year holiday.
The announcement confirmed that all Primary Schools in Rotherham will open as planned on 4th January.
The borough’s Secondary Schools will re-open as follows, during week commencing:
The delay is to allow time to set-up Covid testing for staff and pupils. Remote learning will be available for exam-year children from 4th January.
Reminder – holiday opening hours and emergency cover
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