Rotherham’s official Covid case total passes 100,000

Official figures reveal an overall total of 101,038 coronavirus occurrences — and they are only those that are known about and recorded.

This represents 38 per cent of the borough’s population.

Back in September, the number of notified cases was 98,862 across the area, so it is clear the pandemic found new victims into the new year.

In the first week of 2023, there were 113 new cases that officials were made aware of locally.

While the infections still cause suffering, Rotherham is hugely better off than it was 12 months ago when Covid was at its peak locally.

At the start of 2023, there was little Covid detected in and around Rotherham town centre.

The highest Rotherham numbers were registered in areas including Maltby, Hellaby, Greasbrough, Kimberworth Park and Kilnhurst, then Swinton, Herringthorpe, Whiston, Catcliffe, Treeton and Waverley.

Dinnington, Anston, Whiston, Herringthorpe and Morthen were lower down the scale, while the numbers were fewer in Bramley, Wickersley, Ravenfield and Wath and the centre of Rotherham.

Rotherham has had half as many Covid cases as Sheffield and less than Doncaster, but more than Barnsley.

Health officials are trying to paint an accurate picture as possible of how the campaign against Covid is being waged.

Between January 5 to 11, there were 1,319 notified tests carried out in the borough.

The vaccination programme was clearly a huge logistical exercise — 205,835 people in Rotherham were given a first dose, 197,863 people a second and 159,806 others had received a booster or third dose by January 11.

Hospitals are still having to find beds for the worst coronavirus victims, though.

Between January 3 and 9, 24 Rotherham people went into hospital — an increase of 26.3% compared to the previous seven days.

There were 13 patients in hospital with coronavirus on January 11, but none in critical care.

Between January 1 and 7, there were two deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

Overall, across Yorkshire and the Humber there have been 1,971,476 confirmed cases of Covid-19.

Rotherham Council is encouraging people to follow Government advice on how to “learn to live safely with coronavirus”.

They recommend actions to help reduce the risk of catching it, flu and other respiratory infections and passing it on to others.

Things you can choose to do are:

*Get vaccinated;

*Let fresh air in if meeting others indoors;

*Practise good hygiene like washing your hands, covering your coughs and sneezes, cleaning your surroundings frequently and wearing a face covering;

If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection and a high temperature you should stay at home.