Sheffield is now an 'area of enhanced support' - here's what that means and how far city is from a local lockdown

Sheffield has now been escalated to an ‘area of enhanced support’ on the government’s watchlist, one step higher than the previous level of ‘area of concern’.

In the weekly watchlist, published by Public Health England, enhanced support is given to ‘areas at medium/high risk of intervention’.

The main reason for this enhanced level is the ever-increasing infection rate in Sheffield.

The city’s latest weekly infection rate, as of September 28, was 105.3 cases per 100,000 people, considerably higher than 70.6 the previous week.

Sheffield also recorded its highest number of coronavirus cases in one day since the pandemic hit, with 159 people testing positive for coronavirus on Wednesday, September 30, according to government statistics.

South Yorkshire mayor Dan Jarvis said that they will not ‘hesitate’ to bring in further restrictions.

He said: "We'll have a very tough winter ahead of us if we don't act now and slow the spread of coronavirus.

"If case numbers continue to increase, we won't hesitate to call on the government to bring in local lockdown measures."

Nearby Wakefield and Rotherham have also been made ‘areas of concern’.

What does it mean?

Additional resources will be provided to support the local team from the government. There is a more detailed plan, agreed with by national officials.

Significant additional widespread testing deployed to the UTLAs.

Detailed engagement with high risk groups and sectors to help increase the effectiveness of testing and tracing in these areas.

Further restrictions can be imposed if it is moved to the next level, ‘an area of intervention’.

What is the next level?

The next step would be Sheffield becoming an ‘area of intervention’ – with local lockdown restrictions in place – which could happen in a matter of weeks, as seen in the north west and north east.

The BBC has reported that ‘66 per cent of northern England faces restrictions’, and further restrictions could come into place in Sheffield if the enhanced support does not work.

In the north east it is now illegal to mix indoors with anyone from outside your own household, and more interventions are being introduced in areas such as Liverpool and Warrington from Saturday, October 3.

Residents in the Liverpool City Region now must not meet anyone outside their household or bubble in any indoor setting, including private homes and gardens.

Health and social care secretary Matt Hancock said: “Our strategy is to suppress the virus, protecting the economy, education and the NHS, until a vaccine can make us safe.

“I understand how much of an imposition these new measures are. I want rules like this to stay in place for as short a time as possible. I am sure we all do.

“The more people follow the rules and reduce their social contact, the quicker we can get Liverpool, and the North East, back on their feet.”