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Rapid infection rise means Rotherham is ‘area of concern’
Rotherham has been added to the Government’s national watch list today after another week in which Covid-19 infection rates in the borough have continued to rise alarmingly.
The latest 7-day infection rate in Rotherham has increased to more than 80 cases per 100,000 people, up from 49.1 per 100,000 last week.
There were 220 Covid-19 cases reported in Rotherham over the 7-day period, with 25 hospital admissions.
Although Rotherham is classed as an ‘Area of Concern’ – the lowest of three categories on the Government list – our inclusion does mean the borough is one step closer to having tighter restrictions, like those being imposed in other areas of the country with high infection rates.
Appearing on the watch list is expected to see some additional testing capacity for the borough at both the local test site at Forge Island and the mobile test unit at Midland Road.
Leader of Rotherham Council Cllr Chris Read, said: “The data shows us that the infection is occurring across all areas of the borough and within all age groups. By speaking to people who have the disease we know most of them have contracted it through some form of social contact, whether that is through mixing with friends, relatives or workmates.
“We want to thank the majority of people in Rotherham who are following the guidelines. However, we need everyone else to take this situation seriously and to do what is right. Rotherham is a strong and caring community, we need the community to once again rally together to keep each other safe and to protect our most vulnerable residents and all of our frontline workers.”
Play your part – let’s keep Rotherham open
It’s important that we all continue to play our part and urge family and friends to do the basics well to keep Rotherham open.
Please remember to follow the rule of six, keep two meters part when possible and limit the number of people you mix with.
These are the five main ways in which people can help:
- Keep 2 metres apart whenever possible
- Wash hands often
- Self isolate and get tested if you have symptoms
- Wear a face covering whenever required
- Encourage anyone with symptoms, however mild, to get tested as soon as possible.
Government payment for workers who have to self-isolate
Workers who are told to self-isolate by the NHS Test and Trace service will be able to apply for a Government’s support payment scheme administered by Rotherham Council via our website.
A £500 lump sum is available to workers who are unable to work from home after being told to self-isolate either because they have tested positive for the virus or have been identified as a contact and have been advised by the NHS to stay at home,
The Test and Trace Support Payment has been set up by the Government to support people on low incomes who are unable to work from home to self-isolate without losing their wages.
To be eligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment, you must:
- have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace either because you have tested positive for coronavirus or have been told to self-isolate by Test and Trace (not including notifications via the NHS app).
- be employed or self-employed;
- be unable to work from home and will lose income as a result; and
- be currently receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit.
The Government announced that from Monday 28 September, new fines will come into force for those people who break self-isolation rules. The support payment scheme will also come into effect from Monday 28 September 2020.
The Council is currently awaiting for Government to provide the scheme guidance, should this become available prior to the 12 October the application process may be published sooner. Those who are eligible from 28 September 2020 will be able to make a backdated claim.
Video tour of Forge Island test site
Ever wondered what visiting a Covid-19 test site is like?
Our Covid-19 Service Manager, Denise Fedyszyn, explains what to expect if you book a test at the local test site at Forge Island in this new video.
If you or your child have Covid-19 symptoms, you must arrange to get tested as soon as possible. Book online or call 119.
Turkey and Poland are the latest countries to be removed from England’s Travel Corridor Exempt list, the Government has announced.
Peope returning home after foriegn travel, must follow advice on self isolation if they have been to a country which is not on the Government’s safe travel corridors list.
Even if you have had a negative covid-19 test when you arrive back in the UK, you still must self-isolate for 14 days, starting from the day you arrive back in the country.
The list of countries where you do not need to self-isolate upon your return is available on the Government website. It is regularly under review, so make sure you check before travelling home.
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