Chesterfield mayor urges people to get Covid-19 protection jabs

Chesterfield's mayor Councillor Glenys Falconer receives her first Covid-19 vaccination.

Councillor Glenys Falconer has had her first jab after being called up and says she was impressed with the roll-out programme.

The town’s iconic Winding Wheel Theatre and the Wheatbridge Surgery were the latest Covid-19 vaccination sites to open in Chesterfield this month.

Coun Falconer said: “I’m really impressed with the way vaccines are being rolled out here in Chesterfield. The vaccination site at the Winding Wheel Theatre is really well organised and the whole process was quick and straightforward.

“I’m really grateful to the NHS staff and volunteers who are working hard to deliver the vaccine to our residents.

“I was contacted directly by my GP to make an appointment. People will be contacted directly when they are in line for the jab, and I would encourage everyone to take this up and help us to ensure that we can protect the most vulnerable in our community.”

Vaccinations are all by appointment only and patients should not contact their GP about a vaccination unless asked to do so.

People should not attend a vaccination centre without an appointment.

Coronavirus infection figures in Chesterfield borough showed 416 new cases for the week to January 21, down from 432 new cases the week before.

In the same period, Bolsover recorded the sharpest increase in new cases in the whole of England, with a rise of 103 in a week to 455.

North East Derbyshire also experienced a rise in new cases, up from 329 to 352.

As of January 25, Chesterfield Royal Hospital recorded 280 coronavirus-related deaths since the pandemic started.

Government data indicated that a total of 130 patients across all settings in Chesterfield have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 up to January 25.

A new strain of the virus has been identified as being 50% to 70% more transmissable than the one in 2020.

People should take care to protect themselves and others as one in three could be carrying it without knowing.

The advice from Government is to stay at home unless necessary.