People urged to keep windows and doors open during Christmas gatherings to prevent spread of virus

In an interview with BBC Breakfast today, Sheffield’s Director of Public Health, Greg Fell, said good ventilation will make a difference in reducing the risk of virus transmission.

“It's the focus on ventilation of the windows that can shift the air around and reduce the risk of transmission of the virus, although not reducing it to zero sadly, but it does reduce,” he said.

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“It is better to have the windows open than to have the windows not being opened because being in very close proximity to other people will increase the risk.

“So, every little thing does count,” he said.

In the same interview, he said he would not be surprised if Sheffield remains under Tier 3 lockdown restrictions after today’s government review, although infection rates across the city, particularly among the elderly, have dropped over the past month.

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The city is currently subjected to Tier 3 lockdown measures, which prevents pubs and restaurants from serving customers and households from mixing indoors or in private gardens.

The government will announce today whether sufficient work has been done by health bosses in Sheffield to control the spread of the virus and alleviate the strain on hospitals, to enable the city to move down into Tier 2.

The lockdown tier review will confirm which level of restrictions areas across the country are to be subject to when they come into effect from Saturday, December 19.

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In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.