Sheffield health chief addresses Tier 4 speculation

Tier 4 restrictions are not currently being considered for Sheffield – but a city health boss has not ruled out stricter rules.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

This week The i newspaper reported Whitehall officials were considering alternative options should the three-tiered system fail to suppress the spread of coronavirus, with measures including a fourth tier or short “circuit-breaker” lockdowns in areas with the highest case rates.

A fourth tier could see restaurants and non-essential retail stores close, the paper said, and the suggestion comes after the Scottish Government opted for a five-tier model in which Level 4 is closer to the full lockdown implemented in March.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On Monday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the Government would “take nothing off the table” when asked about the prospect of a new fourth tier of restrictions.

Further tougher restrictions in Sheffield have not been ruled out.Further tougher restrictions in Sheffield have not been ruled out.
Further tougher restrictions in Sheffield have not been ruled out.

Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson backed the idea of a fourth tier of restrictions if Tier 3 measures do not go far enough to halt the spread of Covid-19.

Sheffield is currently subject to the highest level of restrictions. Susan Hird, Public Health consultant at Sheffield City Council said it is “too early days” to tell if they are working ahead of a review on 18 November but expects the city to remain in Tier 3 beyond that date.

On the possibility of greater restrictions, she said: “I haven’t heard anything about Tier 4 other than what the mayor of Liverpool was saying.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“When we went into Tier 3 the Government have been quite clear there’s a Tier 3 and Tier 3 Plus. I guess the question is ‘Is this going to work and if this doesn’t work what else do we need to have an impact?’"

She added: "These things are very difficult because there’s a very fine line between managing the infection rate and keeping the economy going.”

Ms Hird admitted she doesn’t know at this stage if Sheffield will go into Tier 4, should it be introduced, but said there are additional measures that can be introduced before then, such as closing gyms.

It is not currently in the ‘Tier 3 Plus’ category.

In such areas, local authorities can introduce measures on top of those imposed by central Government to help control the spread of Covid-19.