‘Wear a face mask EVERYWHERE’: Sheffield health boss issues new advice to fight Covid

Face masks should be worn in all settings – even those where they are not required by law – Sheffield’s director of Public Health has advised.
Steve Jones
By Steve Jones
Published 15th Oct 2020, 09:16 BST
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Greg Fell, who this week warned it is a matter of when, not if, the city will be placed under Tier 3 restrictions, said face coverings keep ‘us and others safe’.

Government advice states they are largely intended to protect others, not the wearer, against the spread of infection because they cover the nose and mouth - the main confirmed sources of coronavirus transmission.

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It is currently a legal requirement to wear face coverings in many settings in the UK, with a small list of exceptions, including outdoor public spaces, some places of work and gyms.

A woman wearing PPE (personal protective equipment), including a face mask as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, sits on a bench in Sheffield (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)A woman wearing PPE (personal protective equipment), including a face mask as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, sits on a bench in Sheffield (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)
A woman wearing PPE (personal protective equipment), including a face mask as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, sits on a bench in Sheffield (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)

Mr Fell said: "People should continue to wear a face covering in areas where this is mandated.

"Personally, I’d go a lot further and recommend everyone wears face coverings in places where they’re not mandated, they keep us and others safe”.

The 12 worst Sheffield areas for Covid-19 infections this week as Tier 2 rules begin

It remains unknown how long Sheffield will be subject to tighter restrictions on daily life, but Mr Fell hinted it could be for the foreseeable future.

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He previously said the Government is reluctant to take areas subject to stricter lockdown-style measures off the ‘naughty step’ because it gives the impression ‘it’s all over’.

Mr Fell said: "The Government has indicated it is willing to go further, has done in lots of other cities, most obviously at the moment Liverpool City Region. Once we’re in this, we’re in this.

"It remains beholden to be sensible, to protect ourselves and to protect others. The best way to protect our loved ones is to keep the spread as low as humanly possible and we’re working with Government to identify what the exit strategy for any restrictions that are imposed is.”

There were 432 cases per 100,000 people in Sheffield in the seven days to 11 October. The average area in England had 89. During that time, 2,526 people in the city tested positive for the virus, an average of 361 each day.

Sheffield’s R number is “definitely above one,” Mr Fell said.

Related topics:SheffieldGreg FellGovernmentPeople