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Mansfield Mayor in appeal to obey lockdown rules

Posted onPosted on 14th Jan

The Mayor of Mansfield is urging residents to obey national lockdown rules as local Covid-19 rates and the number of coronavirus patients in King’s Mill Hospital continue to rise.

Andy Abrahams said: “I feel the need to emphasise the facts that are challenging the whole country but more specifically the current situation in our district. We are in such a perilous position with the pandemic and everyone has a responsibility to obey lockdown rules to the absolute letter.

“The infection rate in Mansfield has doubled to more than 500 cases per 100,000 in the last two weeks, resulting in our local hospital having double the number of Covid patients than in the first wave. There are more than 500 people in Nottinghamshire hospitals with Covid-19.

“These rates need to come down to ease the situation in the local health and care system, which is now under enormous strain. I realise that you are receiving the same messages repeatedly but we all must do everything within our power. The Government is urging people to Stay at Home, Protect the NHS, Save lives and this is what we must do. The safest place for us all is at home.

“On a positive note, I am pleased to report that Mansfield will be one of the first locations in the county to introduce targeted community testing using rapid testing kits known as lateral flow tests.

“The communities that we have identified to benefit first are Bellamy Road, Ladybrook and Oak Tree because they have a high proportion of working age residents and those who are unable to work from home. It will involve people being tested once a week. We want to make sure that they have easy access to testing and support if they need to self-isolate.

“It takes a matter of seconds for someone to do the test themselves by swabbing their throat and nose. The result is confirmed in about 30 minutes and anyone who tests positive must self-isolate.

“We hope that all the necessary arrangements are in place for this pilot to start week beginning 25 January for three months. Further details will be publicised soon.

“So ‘this light at the end of the tunnel’ is starting to emerge but we must obey all the rules now to enable our hospitals to survive in the present.”