Sheffield news LIVE: UK records over 5,000 coronavirus cases - highest figure since March
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Welcome to The Star’s live blog on Friday June 4 where you will be able to find a round-up of the latest coronavirus news and the biggest Sheffield news stories of the day.
Sheffield news LIVE
Key Events
- Investigation launched after firefighters tackle blaze in Sheffield suburb
- Professor Fergusoin: Most people in hospital with the virus have not had a vaccine.
- UK records highest single-day Covid-19 figure since March with 18 fatalities
- Holiday hopes dashed as 'no countries added to green list' - and Portugal to move to amber
Thunderstorms could bring lightning, hail and heavy rain to parts of the UK as the warm weather is set to continue following days of uninterrupted sunshine.
For the second day in a row it was the hottest day of 2021 on Tuesday, which was the first day of meteorological summer, after a toasty 25.8C was recorded in both Cardiff and Middle Wallop.
Wednesday is expected to be another fine day for many, but thunderstorms are likely across parts of south-west England and south-west Wales, leading the Met Office to issue a yellow weather warning for these areas.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: “The thunderstorms could bring lots of lightning, some hail, as well as some heavy rain, and with the half term there is an increased number of tourists in this area.
“The thunderstorms do then push north-eastwards into the Midlands and across more of Wales, but they also ease and break up, so these places will see some showers but they won’t be as intense.”
The Met Office’s yellow thunderstorm alert from 5am to 11am warns there could be some short-term loss of power and other services, while delays to train services and poor road conditions are possible.
But Mr Burkill said that Wednesday was likely to be hotter than Tuesday, with the possibility of a sizzling 28C or 29C in some areas.
Looking ahead to Thursday, nationwide temperatures are expected to lower a little but with fine and dry weather for most, although a few thundery showers remain possible.
The warm weather has been a welcome break for people following a washout May, which brought heavy downpours and prolonged spells of rain for much of the UK.
Wales experienced the wettest May since records began in 1862, with 245mm of rainfall, topping the previous record of 184mm set in 1967, according to the Met Office.
The UK has seen its fourth highest amount of rainfall on record for the month, with an average of 120mm.
Meanwhile, England had its fifth wettest May on record, and its wettest since 1967, with 111mm of rain.
Sheffield stabbing victim still in hospital as attacker remains at large
Sheffield stabbing victim still in hospital as attacker remains at large
A 36-year-old man remains in hospital today after being found stabbed in Sheffield.
Sheffield pub apologises after girl, aged two, is served extra hot sauce
Sheffield pub apologises after girl, aged two, is served extra hot sauce
A horrified mum has demanded an investigation after her two-year-old daughter was served extra hot sauce at a pub in Sheffield.
One of Sheffield City Council’s most senior cabinet members has been accused of ‘a repeated succession of inappropriate behaviour’
Cabinet member robustly denies allegations of holding ‘Sheffield back’ and breaking code of conduct rules
One of Sheffield City Council’s most senior cabinet members has been accused of ‘a repeated succession of inappropriate behaviour’ which broke codes of conduct and ‘held the regeneration of Sheffield City Centre back’.
The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital in north-west England is at its highest level for nearly a month, NHS England figures show.
A total of 184 patients were in hospital as of 8am on June 1.
The last time the number was higher was on May 4, when the total stood at 203.
The seven-day average for the region has also increased in recent days and is currently 174 patients, the highest since May 10.
For England as a whole, the seven-day average for Covid-19 hospital patients currently stands at 755, down slightly from 760 a week ago.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the news that the UK had not reported any deaths linked to Covid-19 for the first day since summer last year was proof vaccines were working.
Mr Hancock said: “The whole country will be so glad there were no Covid related deaths recorded yesterday.
“The vaccines are clearly working – protecting you, those around you and your loved ones.
“But despite this undoubtedly good news we know we haven’t beaten this virus yet, and with cases continuing to rise please remember hands, face, space and let in fresh air when indoors, and of course, make sure when you can you get both jabs.”
Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis says the Government should not leave it until the last minute to tell us whether the lifting of covid restrictions will happen on June 21.
He told the BBC: "The Government will have to take a decision based on the evidence of the scientific advice they will be receiving.
"What i will say to them is not to leave it until the final moment to make a decision. thing people will need at least 10 days notice if there is going to be a change to that June 21 date."
Temperatures set to soar for another sunny day in Sheffield
The warm weather is set to continue in Sheffield following days of uninterrupted sunshine.
For the second day in the row it was the hottest day of 2021 so far in the UK on Tuesday, which was the first day of meteorological summer, after a toasty 25.8C was recorded in both Cardiff and Middle Wallop.
The warm weather has been a welcome break for people following a washout May, which brought heavy downpours and prolonged spells of rain to the region.
Wednesday is expected to be another fine day in Sheffield, with temperatures climbing to 25C.
Here’s the Met Office forecast in full:
7am - sunshine - 12C
8am - sunshine - 13C
9am - sunshine - 15C
10am - sunshine - 17C
11am - sunshine - 19C
noon - sunshine - 22C
1pm - sunshine - 24C
2pm - cloudy - 25C
3pm - sunshine - 25C
4pm - sunshine - 24C
5pm - sunshine - 23C
6pm - sunshine - 22C
7pm - sunshine - 21C
8pm - sunshine - 19C
9pm - sunshine - 17C
Downing Street has indicated that Boris Johnson still sees nothing in the data to suggest the plan to end all legal lockdown restrictions on June 21 will need to be delayed.
Asked about the Prime Minister’s plans amid warnings over the spread of the Indian variant, a No 10 spokesman said: “I was going to point to what the PM said on Thursday.
“The Prime Minister has said on a number of occasions that we haven’t seen anything in the data but we will continue to look at the data, we will continue to look at the latest scientific evidence as we move through June towards June 21.”
Last Thursday, Mr Johnson said: “I don’t see anything currently in the data” to divert from the June 21 target for the next stage of exiting lockdown.
But he did concede that “we may need to wait” for more data.
Asked about whether final restrictions should be eased on June 21, Professor Adam Finn, from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, told LBC radio: “I fear it may be a bad decision to go with it.”
Asked about the businesses which may not survive further delay, he added: “I think they are more likely not to survive if we open up and then shut down again.
“I’m no business person, and shouldn’t really be commenting on business, but it seems to me that if we can progressively get back to a place where we’re living normally that would be the better thing.”
But he added that the final decision to unlock lies with politicians, adding: “Scientists advise but they don’t decide, and ultimately the politicians have to carry the can for whatever decisions are made.”