Easing of restrictions in Sheffield ‘not dependant on the rest of South Yorkshire’

All four local authority areas in the region were placed into Tier 3 from Saturday, with the restrictions set to be reviewed on 18 November. So far, little is known about an exit strategy, with local leaders calling on the Government to provide clarity.

Sheffield’s infection rate was the lowest in South Yorkshire in the seven days to October 21 at 459.3 new cases per 100,000 people – but did rise from 393.4 from the previous week.

The infection rate per 100,000 of the population is one of several factors considered when deciding what level of restrictions to impose on an area.

Other factors include the number of people over 60 receiving hospital treatment for coronavirus, hospital capacity and the rate at which the infection rate is rising.

On Monday, councillor Terry Fox, deputy leader of Sheffield City Council and cabinet member for Finance, Resources and Governance said: “If we do the right things here in Sheffield and our number of cases reduce, even if they don’t elsewhere in South Yorkshire, we would see an easing of our local restrictions which would be great for all of us.”

Cllr Fox said anyone who is eligible for a £500 payment to support them while self-isolating should apply, even if they are not in receipt of benefits, as they may still get financial support if they are on a low income and experiencing financial hardship.

Further details on the scheme are available on the NHS Test and Trace website.