Sheffield City Mayor Dan Jarvis urges people to stay home this Easter weekend

He is encouraging people across South Yorkshire to play their part in the fight against the coronavirus by asking everyone to stay at home over the bank holiday weekend.

Mr Jarvis has been working tirelessly in collaboration with partners across the region to ensure South Yorkshire has what it needs to respond to the virus.

Action taken by the mayor and the Sheffield City region has included deferring loans to major companies to ensure cash flow, protect jobs and provide more certainty across the area.

“Social distancing is working. It is helping to slow the rate of infection and prevent our NHS from being overwhelmed,” Mr Jarvis said. “We will only beat this virus by continuing to stay at home – and failure to do so will cost lives.

“The temptation to go out will be great. However, for our country, this weekend could be the defining moment of this pandemic. The advice is clear. Nobody should leave their home unless it is absolutely essential.

“I know that the coronavirus is causing enormous disruption to our daily patterns and routines and we are trying hard to make the best of a truly awful situation.

“Please, spare a thought for those who are being affected, in different ways, by the lockdown – such as the elderly and the vulnerable who cannot leave the house at all for 12 weeks; those living alone and who are lonely and victims of domestic violence who find themselves in lockdown with their abuser.

“We also owe it to the NHS staff and others on the front line, who are working relentlessly to save lives and keep essential services running, to help them in the best way we can - by staying at home.

“Lets not look back on this Easter weekend with any regrets. Stay at home; protect the NHS; save lives.”