Sheffield faces lockdown ‘within a week’ as Covid-19 cases among university students soar

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A local lockdown could be enforced in Sheffield within a week as the number of positive coronavirus cases continue to soar.

It comes as the city’s director of Public Health admitted it is a case of when, not if, further restrictions will be imposed. Sheffield is currently an ‘area of enhanced support’ on the Government’s coronavirus watchlist – one step below a localised lockdown.

On Monday, Mr Fell said it is ‘likely’ the situation will change ‘over the next week or so’, with 1676 positive cases in the city in the seven days to 2 October.

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Sheffield’s infection rate for this period was 286.6 per 100,000 people, up from 100.9 in the previous week.

People walk past graffiti street art (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)People walk past graffiti street art (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)
People walk past graffiti street art (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)

Mr Fell said: “We are still seeking to avoid an imposed lockdown, or more to the point the imposition of measures that restrict social movement and particularly movement that has an impact on businesses and does economic and social harm. That may come, however.

"While there isn’t a single intervention that is the thing that makes a difference, it is important that the public – you – continue to stick with the programme and the things we can all do consistently to reduce the risk of spread of the virus – which is to act as if everybody else is infected, keep your distance, wash your hands, wear a face covering.”

Sheffield City Council also need to work with the Government to improve access to testing and contract tracing, Mr Fell added. The Test and Trace system currently reaches ‘in the order of 72 per cent’ of close contacts but this needs to be ‘well more than 80 per cent’, which is the minimum target set by SAGE, Mr Fell said.

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He added: "It’s likely the situation will change over the course of the next week or so. The numbers are continuing to rise.”

Greg Fell, Sheffield's director of Public Health, pictured.Greg Fell, Sheffield's director of Public Health, pictured.
Greg Fell, Sheffield's director of Public Health, pictured.

Most new infections are in young, working age people, he confirmed, with a ‘small, but significant uptick’ being hospitalised and needing ventilation support.

Almost 600 students at The University of Sheffield have now tested positive for coronavirus with a further 109 students testing positive on Monday.

If you have symptoms, visit the NHS website to book a free coronavirus test or alternatively you can call 119.

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