Covid cases in hospital up 46 per cent Miners give students a history talk

THE number of patients admitted to Barnsley Hospital in the last week has increased by almost 50 per cent.

There are currently 12 patients on the site with the virus, one of which is on a ventilation bed.

A total of 16 people have been admitted since last week, a 46 per cent increase from the previous week’s figures.

It means that since the start of the pandemic, more than 5,600 people have gone into hospital with the virus.

Despite this rise, the number of active cases of Covid19 across the borough has decreased.

There were 88 positive test results last week, down 20 from the week before – an 18 per cent decrease.

Since the start of the pandemic almost 96,000 cases have been recorded – 87,926 first episodes and 7,688 reinfections.

The town’s current infection rate stands at 35.5 per 100,000 residents.

Four people have died within 28 days of a positive test in the past week – the same number as previously. It brings the death toll to 1,200.

Barnsley still has the second highest death rate, at 483.7 per 100,000 people.

FORMER miners delivered a talk to college students ahead of the upcoming anniversary of the Oaks Colliery Disaster.

The incident happened in Barnsley in 1866, killing at least 361 men and boys by a series of explosions over two days.

Ex-miner Paul Darlow, who is now an author, delivered the talk and interactive session to the students from Barnsley College ahead of the December 12 anniversary.

The choice of setting for the session was decided on the Historic Miners’ Hall on Victoria Road, allowing the students to be immersed in mining artefacts from the 1800s.

Paul said: “This is Barnsley’s history – Barnsley was built on mining.

“Even though these mines closed years ago these are the memories of Barnsley families and it still means a lot to them so it’s important to know, and there are still strong feelings about the pits closing.”