Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis urges people to continue social distancing as government releases new lockdown rules

Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis has called for people to continue abiding by social distancing rules after the Prime Minister issued new lockdown easing guidance this afternoon.

Boris Johnson announced that groups of six people will be able to meet in private gardens at two metres apart from Monday, as part of the country’s new phase of lifting lockdown measures.

In today’s coronavirus daily briefing the Prime Minister said: "These changes mean friends and family can start to meet their loved ones - perhaps seeing both parents at once, or both grandparents at once.

“I know that for many this will be a long-awaited and joyful moment.”

The South Yorkshire metro mayor has welcomed the new rules but urged people to remember the importance of keeping a safe two metre gap with anyone they interact with from a different household.

In a statement Dan Jarvis reminded people that the country is still in a state of lockdown, despite the easing of certain measures.

“This is a welcome development, especially for businesses which have been hard hit by the lockdown”, he said.

“However, we must be clear and remind everyone this is still only an easing of some specific measures: it is not a general relaxation.

“The advice still remains to stay at home as much as possible, wash your hands, and if you do go out, keep two metres distance between yourself and anyone who is not already a member of your household.”

Non-essential retail shops set to reopen from June 15 according to government plans and reception, Year 1 and Year 6 students encouraged to return to school from next week, as part of a phased reopening.

Mr Jarvis called on the government to provider ‘greater clarity’ on the new lockdown guidance regarding the furlough scheme, the NHS test and trace system and who shutdown rules apply to.

He said: “After Dominic Cummings clearly breached the lockdown rules, many people will be asking why they should follow any restrictions when some have treated them as optional.

“The restrictions of the past few months have been hard.

“Like you, I have accepted the frustrations and inconvenience of following the rules.

“But of course doing that is exponentially harder if there is any suspicion that others – whether it is government officials or people gathering in the local park – are not.”

The Sheffield City Region mayor encouraged people to continue to think of the sacrifices key workers have made during the coronavirus crisis.

“We are doing for the sake of the NHS, of our loved ones, of our community and of our country.

“I’m immensely proud of the dignity and solidarity with which we have met this crisis so far.

“I believe we have the common sense to know that the effectiveness of measures against COVID still depends on us. Whatever the failures of leadership elsewhere, we must lead by example.”