Coronavirus in Sheffield: city's health chief responds after two more cases are confirmed

Greg Fell, Sheffield’s director of public health, said an increase was ‘expected’ and the latest figures ‘don’t really change anything’ when it comes to the plans already in place to restrict the spread of the virus within the city.

“It was expected. I suspect we will be getting a lot more (confirmed cases) over the coming weeks,” he said.

Three coronavirus cases now confirmed in Sheffield

“It doesn’t really change the plan that’s already in place.

“Pretty much everyone in the city is preparing for what we know is going to happen.

“The most important thing is for people to wash their hands.

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“All the mathematical modelling that’s been done shows that a handwashing strategy reduces cases by about a third compared with no handwashing strategy, which is not trivial.

“The number of reported cases in the UK has gone up by a lot, which is of course a concern.

“I wish all those affected a very speedy recovery.”

How people are tested for coronavirus after first confirmed Covid-19 case in Sheffield

There are now six confirmed coronavirus cases in South Yorkshire, with two in Barnsley, one in Rotherham and none so far in Doncaster.

The number of confirmed cases in the UK now stands at 590, after a daily rise of 134 which is the biggest yet, and eight people in the UK have now died.

Mr Fell today wrote to school headteachers assuring them that Sheffield was ‘well prepared’ for cases of the virus but urging them to continue to promote the importance of washing hands properly.