Covid vaccinations continue to be rolled out at pace in Rotherham, with the top four priority groups on schedule to be vaccinated by mid-February.

The top four priority groups are:

• Residents and carers in care homes for older people
• All those aged 80 and over and frontline health and social care workers
• All those aged 75 and over
• All those aged 70 and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals (not including pregnant women and those under 16)

Some over 70s and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals, who haven’t yet received their first Covid vaccination, will start to receive a national NHS letter inviting them to a COVID mass vaccination centre or pharmacy hub outside of the borough.

However, if anyone in the high priority groups is unable or unwilling to travel to one of the national mass vaccination centres or pharmacies, they should not worry, as they will still be entitled to the vaccination at a local site.

They will still be contacted by the NHS in Rotherham on the number registered with their GP practice, when it is their turn. They should wait to be contacted and not contact their GP.

There are five Rotherham vaccination service sites. Appointment for these GP-led vaccination service sites are currently only being booked via the local booking teams.

Please be aware people will be required to attend the same location for their second dose when they are invited.

Need help with transport to get vaccinated?

If anyone needs support in getting to and from vaccination appointments, Rotherham Community Transport are providing transport for people who have no means of getting there. Anyone who needs transport should call 01709 517100 once they have their appointment time and location.

View the Vaccine FAQs on the NHS Rotherham CCG website for further details.

NHS Rotherham CCG’s Chief Nurse, Sue Cassin has given an update on the roll-out of the vaccinations in the borough.

Click on the photograph to watch the update on the CCG Facebook page.

Since the beginning of January, we have seen a reduction in the Covid infection rate across the borough, but this has stabilised and today stands at 279.2 cases per 100,000 (for the 7-days to 16th January).

The rate is currently lower than most other areas in the country and less than it was here in late October, but it is still very high.

Whilst the number of old variant Covid cases has been falling, the estimated number of new variant cases is still increasing. If this increase continues, it may stop the overall rate from continuing to fall.

The current estimate is that more than half of positive cases in Rotherham are likely to be the new variant. This is a concerning development as the new variant is thought to be significantly more contagious and spreads quicker – so it’s absolutely essential that we continue to show great care in following the guidance.

Click on the image below to download a video message from Rotherham’s Director of Public Health, Ben Anderson who gives an update on Covid in the borough.

The number of people from Rotherham who have died as a result of Coronavirus is now 690, following a further 23 deaths this week.

There has been a slight reduction in the number of patients being treated for coronavirus in Rotherham Hospital this week, with the number of inpatients now standing at 104, of which 8 are in critical care.

This brings the total number of covid inpatients cared for at Rotherham Hospital since the start of the pandemic to 2,064.

Our thoughts and condolences are with everyone who has lost loved ones.

If you have been bereaved and need support, you can get free help from the Listening Ear Bereavement Service. Visit the Council’s website for details.

It’s vital that people continue to get tested, even if they only have mild symptoms.

You’re entitled to a free NHS Test if:

• you have a high temperature
• you have a new, continuous cough
• you’ve lost your sense of smell or taste or it’s changed
• you’ve been asked to get a test by the council
• you’re taking part in a government pilot project
• you’ve been asked to get a test to confirm a positive result

Click here to book a test immediately if the above applies,

The Forge Island testing site in Rotherham was closed temporarily as a precaution earlier this week due to the risk of flooding.

The site did not ultimately flood and we are awaiting advice from the Department of Health and Social Care, who operate the testing site, about a re-opening date.

In the meantime people who require a Covid test are being directed to one of the borough’s three other sites at Midland Rd (old bus station site), Maltby and Dinnington) – all of which have good availability of tests.

Rotherham firm AESSEAL plc has donated £400,000 to the Laptops for Kids charity to support home learning for children across the borough during the pandemic.

The charitable organisation will use £300,000 to supply refurbished laptops to 1,500 households in Rotherham,

The remaining £100,000 will be used to buy dongles for connecting 10,000 households to the internet, meeting the total estimated need across South Yorkshire.

AESSEAL is a world-leading designer and manufacturer of mechanical seals and support systems. The company operates from 230 locations across the world and is headquartered in Rotherham.

Council Leader, Cllr Chris Read was overwhelmed by the donation. He said: “This is a tremendous gesture from AESSEAL which befits their commitment to our local community, and expanding opportunities for local people.

“I’m really pleased that the council is able to work alongside them and our schools to ensure that more IT equipment will get to the children who will most benefit from it. In what has been the most awful year, this is another example of how our community comes together to look after each other and overcome the challenges that we face.”

To make sure you have your brown bin subscription sticker and calendar in time for the new collection year, customers need to renew or sign-up by 12 February 2021.

For new subscribers, the annual cost has been frozen at £40 for the first brown bin and £31 an additional bin.

Customers renewing from last year will get a £5 discount (per household) as compensation for service disruption in spring 2020 (due to Covid-19).

Click here to sign up now.