Sheffield has LOWEST infection rate in South Yorkshire as government ‘considers Tier 4 lockdowns’

There were 6,729 new cases of coronavirus confirmed across the region during the week to October 21, the latest date for which reliable figures are available.

In Sheffield, another 2,686 people tested positive for Covid-19, giving a weekly infection rate of 459.3 new cases per 100,000 people, which is up from 393.4 for the seven days to October 15 but still down from more than 500 earlier this month.

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In Doncaster, the infection rate has shot up from 271.2 for the week ending October 15 to 477.8 during the latest week, in which 1,490 new cases were recorded.

Barnsley has the region’s highest infection rate, with 1,326 new cases, or 537.1 per 100,000 people, in the week ending on October 21 – considerably up from 364.6 during the seven days to October 15.

And in Rotherham, there were 1,227 new cases in the week to October 21 – a rate of 462.3, compared with 336.5 for the seven days to October 15.

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Public Health England’s figures for October 22-25 have been ignored as data for the most recent four days is likely to be revised.

It is too early to say whether the Tier 3 lockdown measures, which came into force in South Yorkshire on Saturday, have had any impact on transmission rates.

The restrictions, under which pubs not serving substantial meals must close and people are advised not to enter or leave the region, are due to be reviewed 28 days from the date they were introduced.