COVID-19 UPDATE: Tests helping to keep Covid out of the classroom

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Friday 1 October 2021

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


Tests are helping to keep Covid out of the classroom

Covid testing in schools

The overall infection rate for Rotherham now stands at 507.6 cases per 100,000 population, which is an increase from 401.9 cases per 100,000 last week. For 12-17 year-olds in Rotherham, the rate is 1,801.7 per 100,000. 

The fact that so many cases are being identified shows that the regular home testing by secondary school children and staff is working – and that this is helping to keep Covid out of the classroom.

Although children are much less likely to get seriously ill if they catch the virus, it can impact their families and wider community if they pass it on, which is why getting tested regularly remains really important. 

It also underlines the importance of the vaccination programme for 12-15 year-olds, which will reduce the chances of Covid causing disruption to our children’s education, as well as helping to prevent wider transmission.

Let's follow our children's lead and take regular tests

Since returning to school, secondary school children across the borough are doing a fantastic job of getting tested regularly. By getting tested twice a week, they are helping to stop COVID-19 from spreading onto other people in our communities.

However, it is also important that parents, guardians, carers and wider families also take care of themselves too. If you have or regularly look after any school-age children, you can also do your bit to protect your loved ones and the wider community by taking a regular Covid test.

Lateral flow tests are quick and simple ways for you to test yourself at home. All you need to do is pick up your lateral flow test kits and follow the instructions. 30 minutes later, you will get your result back to report online. 

  • Your local library 
  • A leisure centre 
  • A participating pharmacy 

If you're in close contact with someone who has covid

If you or your child are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, such as someone at work or another pupil in your child’s class, you should get a PCR – or lab – test just to make sure.

You do not need to self-isolate if you have been double vaccinated and your child can continue going to school unless they start with symptoms.

You can arrange a free PCR test here.

If you get symptoms yourself

If you develop any symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild, please arrange a PCR test as soon as possible and self-isolate at home until you get your results back.

Remember, Covid symptoms are:

  • a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
  • a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
  • a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

If you do test positive, you need to stay at home for at least 10 days.


Winter vaccine programme

Latest vaccine programmes now well underway

The rollout of new vaccination phases for children aged 12-15, boosters or people aged 50+, care home residents, frontline health workers and those classed as Clinically Extremely Vulnerable is now well underway in Rotherham.

First and second doses of vaccines are still available for all adults over the age of 16 who are yet to take them up. It's not too late so book your vaccine appointment now or go to one of the walk-in sessions being held across the borough.

Vaccinating against flu is also a priority across Rotherham and many thousands of eligible people have already been invited for their jabs to help protect them against winter illness.

We have already seen a fantastic turn out of children and young people getting their vaccination through their school.  

Over the next few weeks, the NHS will continue to deliver the schools-based. This is following the successful model used for vaccinations including for HPV and Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP). 

Parental, guardian or carer consent will be sought by vaccination healthcare staff via secondary and special schools, prior to vaccination, in line with existing school vaccination programmes. 

Even if you have had your first vaccine and you are attending secondary school or college, it’s really important to keep on with twice-a-week lateral flow tests for COVID19 as cases are still increasing among our 12 to 17 years olds in Rotherham. 

Booster jabs are also being rolled out to thousands of eligible people across our borough. 

Priority is been given to care home residents, health and social care workers, people aged over 50, those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk, adult carers, and adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals. 

The NHS will contact people directly to let them know when it is their turn to get their booster vaccine. Please wait until you are contacted. 

It is likely that those who had their first and second doses earliest will be amongst the first to be offered the booster.

If you've not had your first or second dose

You can now receive your COVID-19 vaccination at one of the local vaccination sites. You have two options to get your vaccine in Rotherham:

Book an appointment: Call 0300 3035258.

The Rotherham booking line will be open at the following times:
Monday to Friday – 9am to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday – 9am to 5pm

Walk In Sessions: Alternatively, you can attend one of our Walk In vaccine sessions, NO NEED TO BOOK.

The next Walk-In vaccine session takes place at Rawmarsh Customer Service Centre on 6th October, 4-5.30pm.

See the NHS Rotherham CCG Facebook page for details about this and other forthcoming Grab-A-Jab events.

Grab a jab - 6th October

Rotherham Hospital Update

Rotherham Hospital

On Wednesday there were 31 inpatients in Rotherham Hospital who have tested positive for COVID-19, with 1 in critical care.

Whilst this is a reduction on the number of Covid patients in hospital over the last few weeks, it still continues to be a challenging time for the NHS, especially with the usual pressures of winter set to start impacting soon.

Since the start of the pandemic, Rotherham Hospital has treated 3,135 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and safely discharged a total of 2,338.

Sadly, a further there have been a further seven Covid-related deaths (within 28 days of a positive test by date of death) in Rotherham over the last week.


New Covid test site to open in Dinnington next week

Covid testing

A new local test site for people needing PCR tests will open on Constable Lane car park, Dinnington, on Tuesday 5 October.

The new test site will replace the Mobile Testing Unit (MTU) which is currently at the site, offering residents a better, more permanent testing service.

The MTU will close on Sunday evening and be moved from the Constable Lane site so that the new test site can be built on Monday 4 October. This means testing will be not be available at the Dinnington site until the new facility is up and running from 2pm on Tuesday 5 October. The area will be cordoned off during the build.

If residents need a PCR test during this time, the test sites based in Maltby, Rotherham (Midland Road or Herringthorpe stadium), and Worksop are still available. Alternatively, residents can order a test to their home by going online or calling 119.

Once open, the test centre will be available for appointments throughout the week at the following times: 

  • Tuesday 5 October 2021 – 2pm – 5pm  
  • Wednesday 6 October 2021 – 10am – 5pm 
  • Thursday 7 October and onwards – 8am – 8pm 

The test site will offer PCR – or lab – tests to residents who either: 

  • have symptoms of COVID-19; 
  • need to take a confirmatory test following a positive lateral flow test; or 
  • have been a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. 


Stoptober for better health and healthier finances

Stoptober

Join the thousands of people stopping smoking this Stoptober! 

Giving up smoking will give you a wide range of benefits to your health, and you will see the results in as little at 48 hours. It’s never too late to stop smoking so why not give it a try throughout October? 

Not only will stop smoking help you get a healthier lifestyle, it’s also a great way to save money. 

You can get advice and support through the NHS, including by downloading the free NHS Quit Smoking App. 

Did you know that smokers are up to four times more likely to quit with the help of a stop smoking advisor? 

Get Healthy Rotherham is a local service that can provide stop smoking advice and support. Contact them by phone, email or via their website. 

Tel: 01709 718720 


Council backs real Living Wage for staff and local workers

Real living wage

Rotherham Council has been formally accredited as a real living wage employer. 

It means the Council has joined around 7,000 employers in the UK in being recognised by the Living Wage Foundation (LWF), underlining the authority’s commitment to paying its workers a fair wage, supporting the local economy and encouraging other local employers to follow suit. 

Being a Living Wage employer formally commits the Council to paying its own lowest-paid staff at a rate determined independently and based on the real cost of living as well as working with its contractors to secure the real living wage to employees providing services on behalf of the Council. 

Council Leader, Councillor Chris Read announced the news at the Full Council meeting this week.

Councillor Read said: “With the cost of living increasing and recruitment of staff becoming increasingly competitive, it’s an important sign of our commitment that the Council is receiving this accreditation. 

“Accreditation with the Living Wage Foundation enhances our ability to recruit and retain staff and strengthens our position as a community leader in this area. And when we know that low paid staff are more likely to spend money in the local economy, it’s also good news for other local businesses and the wider community.” 


The Rotherham Round-Up keeping you up-to-date

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