Local lockdown in Sheffield 'seems inevitable' but 'could have been avoided' says MP

But Louise Haigh, Labour MP for Sheffield Heeley, claims stricter measures could have been avoided were it not for the Government’s ‘serial incompetence’.

An announcement about a local lockdown in Sheffield is widely expected today, Thursday, October 8, or tomorrow.

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It is likely to include a ban on different households mixing in homes and gardens, as is already in place across much of the north, while there is speculation that pubs and restaurants could be closed too.

Ms Haigh said: “It is absolutely essential that people continue to follow the public health guidance, and I recognise how difficult and frustrating this latest surge in cases has been.

“It does now seem inevitable that Sheffield will be facing tougher lockdown measures, given the higher rates of infection.

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"This was avoidable, and indeed could have been avoided if the Government had got its act together over the summer and made sure the test, trace and isolate system was properly functioning.

"Without this we cannot prevent an outbreak before it starts to spread, and rates of infection and hospitalisations increase.

“I regret that we are likely to be facing a winter of tough measures, because of the Government’s serial incompetence, but I would urge everyone to pull together and do continue to do their bit to bear down on this virus.”

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Sheffield’s Covid-19 infection rate has risen sharply over the last week and is now the eight highest in England, with 358.2 new cases a week being recorded per 100,000 people.