Coronavirus Doncaster: Update
Introduction
Hi, my name is Dr Rupert Suckling and I am the Director of Public Health in Doncaster.
I wanted to start this week’s update by thanking all of you for your efforts to bring the infection rate down. I appreciate the sacrifices that you and your loved ones are making. I am pleased to say that we are seeing the results of this. Our rate is falling and has been for the last 9 consecutive days.
Our rate currently is 364.6 per 100,000 people for the time period 7th to the 13th of November and the positivity rate, the number of people that are testing positive, has fallen to 13.7%. This is a significant reduction from 570 per 100,000 that we were seeing a few weeks ago.
So thank you and please keep this up. We're halfway through the national restrictions, and a further 2 weeks of sacrifice will make a big impact.
As I mentioned last week, Doncaster is to pick up local test and trace work. This will help us to find local infections, hot spots and areas of stubborn infection rates and act on the ground, compared to the national system.
We have been working hard to get our plans in place with a team of dedicated staff in Doncaster including staff who will be able to go out in the community. We are having early discussions with schools and care homes as I would want to see them tested soonest.
This is not mass testing like in Liverpool but will be targeted work in areas or settings where we need to act quickly. Please do follow the guidance and work with my colleagues if they get in touch. Your help is vital to make this work.
As always if you have symptoms – a temperature, persistent new cough or a change or loss to your sense of smell or taste, self-isolate and get a test. There are local testing centres in Doncaster so you will not be sent long distances away for one.
I also want to mention the advice on childcare bubbles as I know this is important for a lot of people. So to reiterate, a set of parents can set up a childcare bubble with one other household and no others. The bubbles are exclusive.
If childcare is shared amongst parents who have joint custody and do not live together then you can each have a childcare bubble with one other household.
Also do remember with support bubbles if you are a single parent or live by yourself, you can expand your close support network so that it includes one other household of any size.
So thank you all again – keep this up. If we get our infection rate right down, then it stands us in better stead.
Thank you.
Dr Rupert Suckling
Director of Public Health
Watch my latest video update here
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Winter is Coming
Residents will soon be receiving through their letterbox our 'Staying Safe and Well Winter' Booklet.
It includes...
❄️ Advice and guidance on staying well in the colder months
❄️Coronavirus advice
❄️Mental health and wellbeing advice
❄️ A guide to NHS services available
❄️Financial support guidance
❄️Carers and family support and a lot more.
Please take some time over the next week to have a good read through!
Doncaster Needs You!
If you are looking for a new challenge, want to help out in your community and make a difference to our residents’ lives then consider applying for one of our new Neighbourhood Engagement and Response Officer roles at the council.
There are 12 of these roles to be filled.
It is a paid role, working in the Stronger Communities Area Teams within our Communities Service, where you will be out and about directly helping our residents and responding to local issues. Book on to the online sessions which start next Monday to find out more and get help and support with the application process.
You can read the full job description and also book on to the online sessions here:
 There are other job opportunities at the council and we are always looking for people to work in our adult social care services. You don’t need a background in care, just a passion to help others. Find out more:
This year has been so difficult for many people who may have lost their job because of the pandemic. A new online employment hub provides a single access point for anyone who is looking for employment, a change of career, to develop their skills or become self-employed.
You can access the hub here:
Help Tame your child's Worry Monster
These are difficult times for us all - especially our children.
Many will have been asked to stay home and isolate over the course of the last few months due to Covid cases in the classroom.
We know that this is to help slow the spread of Coronavirus and keep us all safe, but that doesn't mean they don't miss their friends and teachers!
Children show anxiety in different ways, but you can help tame that Worry Monster!
Find out more about how you can support your child's mental health:
Energy Voucher Scheme
- Do you have a prepaid gas or electricity meter?
- Have you been affected financially by the Coronavirus pandemic?
- Are you struggling to pay gas and/or electricity bill?
If you answer 'yes' to these questions you could be entitled to a fuel voucher worth £49 (one per month until Jan 19th 2021).
Call 01302 386720 and ask to be put through to the Energy Team for your application form. Complete, return and you could have your energy voucher with 48 hours.
Help us share information that matters to YOU!
We want to be able to provide you with important, relevant information for wherever you live in the borough so you're as up to date as possible.
To help us do this, we're asking you to answer a couple of questions by clicking on the link below. This will allow us to send updates on where you live straight to your inbox 👍
COVID app
You can download the NHS COVID-19 app here:
Sharing is caring
Don’t forget to share the messages in this newsletter with people who may not be online, whilst following government guidance on physical distancing.
They may also be interested in signing up to receive these emails (and other updates from us):
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