Senior doctor says hard work of Rugby volunteers has helped to keep town's Covid-19 infection rate below average

Rugby's rate of confirmed Covid-19 infections and Covid-19 deaths has been below the national average - a figure one senior doctor said is partially down to the hard work of volunteers in the area.

For months, groups in and around Rugby have worked together to produce a range of personal protective equipment (PPE) for the NHS, carers and the community.

Clinical director Dr Norman Byrd said: “So far Rugby has suffered a lower than average incidence of cases and deaths as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I believe that the Rugby PPE Response initiative contributed to this by delivering face visors to Care Homes and NHS staff who were not in what was perceived to be the front line when the crisis emerged.

"We must also thank the numerous seamstresses co-ordinated by the Warwickshire Scrubbers, Benn Partnership Centre and the Friends of St Cross who have made scrubs, scrub bags and gowns for medical staff and cloth face masks for the vulnerable members of the community."

Willy Goldschmidt, chairman of the Friends of St Cross and one of the founding members of the Rugby PPE Response initiative said “It has been tremendous to see how the community came together to support the NHS and the Care Sector in the last four months.

"With support from Friends volunteers, many individuals using domestic 3D printers and partner organisations including Rugby School and Coventry University we have delivered over 13,000 face visors to over 150 organisations.

“Together with the Warwickshire Scrubbers, we have also delivered 12,000 other items of PPE such as scrubs, scrub bags and ear protectors for front line staff across the NHS and Care Sector.

"We are now turning our focus to making cloth face masks for vulnerable members of the community with the aim of distributing 10,000 of these by the end of July.

“It was great to meet and thank Lara Hampton, Assistant Head, Rugby School, David Holton Trustee of the Rugby Group Benevolent Fund, Gita Natarajan of the Benn Partnership Centre and some of the seamstresses at the Benn Partnership Centre.

"There are doubtless many others who we have not met but have done invaluable work in producing PPE and supporting those who are vulnerable or are shielding."

More information about the Rugby PPE Response initiative can be found on www.rugby-ppe-response.org.uk and Facebook @RugbyPPEResponse.