Rotherham not "currently at risk" of local lockdown

Data from the week ending June 21 shows that Rotherham has 1,079 confirmed coronavirus cases, and is in the top 10 towns in the country with the highest infection rate per capita.

Following news that Leicester has been placed back into stricter lockdown measures, Teresa Roche, director of public health in Rotherham has reassured residents that there are no plans to move the area into a similar lockdown, but warned the public to continue following guidelines to reduce the rate of infection.

Ms Roche said: "Rotherham is not currently at risk of lockdown. As per government guidance we have a local outbreak engagement board and we are following our local outbreak control plan with a focus on ensuring people following the guidelines.

"It is essential that residents keep two metres apart from each other, wash their hands often and get tested if they have symptoms. We need all residents and businesses to do their part to help keep Rotherham open.

"As has been widely reported, Leicester has been placed back into stricter lockdown measures and that other places have been highlighted as having relatively high Covid-19 rates of infection. Rotherham has been one of the towns mentioned in these reports, but it is important for me to reassure our residents that recent rates of infection in Rotherham are far lower than those in Leicester.

"However, we cannot be complacent and we want to see the rates reduce further.

"With that in mind, we continue to emphasise the importance of keeping a safe distance and of hand washing, especially with an eye on this weekend when pubs and restaurants begin to reopen. The Council will be promoting more communications to this effect over the coming days and weeks."

Editor's message: Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues. The Star is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. You can subscribe here www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions for unlimited access to Sheffield news and information online. Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.