Due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19), we will now be providing regular email updates for residents to let you know about the latest information we have and any changes to local services that may be affected.
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You can check the latest information on our website at any time by going to https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/coronavirus
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Update to self-isolation guidance
New guidelines from the Department of Health and Social Care have changed the self-isolation period from seven days to 10 days for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms of the virus.
Evidence shows that people with COVID-19 who are mildly ill, or recovering, have a low but real possibility of still being infectious between seven and nine days after illness onset, which is why the guidelines for self-isolation have been extended for three extra days.
The extension will provide additional protection to vulnerable people in the community and is particularly important as the autumn and winter flu session approaches.
You can read the Chief Medical Officer’s full statement here:
Cllr Chris Read (right) with Cllr David Roche and Director of Public Health, Teresa Roche at the new facility yesterday.
Rotherham’s new walk-through Covid-19 testing site at Forge Island is now open.
The facility, which is operated by the Department of Health and Social Care, is open to the public from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week for the next 12 weeks and is in addition to the drive-through site at Midland Road.
Anyone with coronavirus symptoms, however mild, or those who are concerned that they have been in contact who is COVID-19 positive, is being urged to get tested as soon as possible.
Both the new walk-in and drive through sites are operating an appointments system to ensure that tests are available for everyone who needs one.
The test itself takes less than a minute, is free of charge and painless.
Test results are returned the next day. Anyone with a positive test will need to self-isolate for 10 days with those living in the same household needing to isolate for 14 days. They will also be contacted by NHS Test and Trace for details of the people with who you have recently been in contact with.
For people that get a negative result, it means they did not have the virus at the time of the test, it does not mean they are immune to the virus. They should continue to follow social distancing guidance, wear a face covering and wash their hands regularly to avoid contracting the virus. If they develop symptoms, they will need to have another test.
Rotherham Council Leader, Cllr Chris Read joined Cabinet Member for Public Health, Cllr David Roche and Director of Public Health, Teresa Roche on a visit to the new facility as it fully opened to the public yesterday.
Cllr Chris Read said: “Forge Island is a central location for the testing site and will be accessible for everyone who needs to use it. We have already had a fantastic response from people across Rotherham getting tested at mobile test centres in Herringthorpe and at Midland Road over the past two weeks and now we are continuing our commitment to reducing the transmission of the virus with the new walk-through centre.”
Leisure centres latest
Rotherham Council is continuing to work closely with our partner provider, Places Leisure, on plans to re-open leisure facilities and swimming pools in the borough.
While Government guidelines have now changed and some leisure facilities in other parts of the country have started to re-open, the number of people contracting Covid-19 in Rotherham is still higher than we would hope.
For this reason, we are aiming to re-open our leisure centres from September. Preparations are being made to enable this, but it will be dependant on the local situation at that time.
We appreciate how important it is for people to be able to exercise, both for their physical and mental health. So, in the meantime, we are encouraging people to continue with their regular exercise activity in parks and other outdoor settings, ensuring they are safe and social distancing measures are in place.
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You can now find out which local restaurants, cafes and bars are taking part in the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which launches on 3rd August.
The scheme aims to give a boost to the hopitality industry by providing a 50% discount on food or non-alcoholic drinks to eat or drink in (up to a maximum of £10 discount per person) at participating venues every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between 3rd and 31st August.
You won’t need a voucher to use the scheme – the discount will be automatically available to you at the establishments taking part.
The venue will then claim a reimbursement from the government for the discount they’ve given you.
You cannot claim discount on alcoholic drinks or service charges.
For further details about the scheme and to enter your postcode to find participating venues near to you, click the button below.
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Order your books from our libraries from Monday
Don’t forget, a new ‘Order and Collect’ service will be available at 11 Rotherham Council libraries from next Monday, 3rd August – chapter one in the phased re-opening of your local libraries.
You can search the online Library catalogue to see if the book or books you want are on the shelf at the library of your choice now. From Monday you can then fill out the form on our website or call the branch to place an order for collection from that site.
Our libraries staff will agree a date and time to come to pick up the books from the library. This will help in managing queues safely and ensure visitors stay in line with social distancing requirements.
The Order and Collect service will be available from the following libraries:
- Riverside House
- Maltby
- Dinnington
- Aston
- Wickersley
- Swinton
- Wath
- Brinsworth
- Greasbrough
- Rawmarsh
- Thorpe Hesley
Mowbray Gardens, Kiveton Park, and Kimberworth Libraries will remain closed for the time being whilst improvement work is carried out as part of the £7 million investment programme announced by the Council earlier this year. Thurcroft Library remains temporarily closed.
For more details and to use the order and collect service, visit the libraries section on the Council’s Libraries website at https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/libraries . Alternatively you can email or telephone your local library for more information.
The Libraries website is also home to a wide range of online resources, including access to e-books and e-magazines.
Sport England has awarded £1m of National Lottery funding to England’s hosting of the UEFA European Women’s Championship in 2022.
The funding comes with a view to increasing the number of adult women playing football in England.
In keeping with Sport England’s continued commitment to women’s and girls’ sport, the investment will support the development of local plans within the proposed EURO 22’s host cities which, of course, includes Rotherham.
Eight Host City Legacy Groups have been established with key partners from Football, Local Authorities, Active Partnerships, Education, Public Health and Culture coming together to work towards a common EURO 2022 Legacy Plan. These groups will be awarded approximately £100,000 to create a recreational women’s football offer in each of the nine host cities, so that when EURO 22 arrives we’re able to build on the increased interest in the women’s game, as was seen following the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019.
The UEFA Women’s EURO was initially due to be played in summer 2021, however following the COVID-19 pandemic the tournament was rescheduled and will now take place from 6-31 July 2022.
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Government unveils new obesity strategy
The Government has set out the details of its new obesity strategy and its ‘Better Health’ campaign to help people eat better, get active and lose weight to beat coronavirus and protect the NHS.
The Covid-19 crisis has highlighted the urgency of tackling obesity, as evidence suggests that people who are overweight are at an increased risk from COVID-19.
As part of a range of measures, there will be a ban on TV and online adverts for food high in fat, sugar and salt before 9pm, and an end to deals like ‘buy one get one free’ on unhealthy food high in salt, sugar and fat. Calories will also be displayed on menus to help people make healthier choices when eating out.
In Rotherham we will look at how we can use and integrate the new strategy and campaign to enhance local projects aimed at reducing obesity.
Rotherham Council’s Director of Public Health, Terri Roche, said: “We welcome any initiative that promotes good health and we will be working with our partners, GPs and commissioned services, such as Get Healthy Rotherham, to provide people across the borough with the help they need to work towards a healthier weight and prevent future weight gain.
“We also welcome changes announced to help people make healthier choices about the food they eat, such as the ban on advertising of food high in fat, sugar or salt on television and online before 9pm and the ending of ‘buy one get one free promotions’ on unhealthy food and drink.”
Councillor David Roche, Cabinet Member for Adult Health and Social Care, added: “Earlier this year the Council signed the Local Authority Declaration on Healthy Weight – a pledge to ensure the borough moves towards the prevention of unhealthy lifestyles supported by the organisation, Food Active.
“These new measures, combined with our commitment to the declaration, can help play a part in reducing obesity levels across the borough.”
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