'Rates remain too high to let our guard down' says Sheffield health chief over Tier 3 decision

Many were left baffled by the Government’s decision yesterday which saw Sheffield along with the rest of South Yorkshire remain at Tier 3 while all neighbouring counties such as Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire were escalated to Tier 4.

It means that residents won’t face the toughest coronavirus restrictions that will see non-essential shops, gyms and personal care services closed in many other parts of the country.

Greg Fell, Sheffield’s director of Public Health, urged residents to keep taking every precaution to stem the spread of the virus in spite of the confusing move.

Mr Fell tweeted: “Whilst we haven’t gone up a tier, that is no reason to be complacent or let our guard down. Rates remain too high here, just as in lots of other places.”

Matt Hancock confirms Sheffield and South Yorkshire will remain in Tier 3

The health boss said he didn’t yet know how the impact of Christmas, which saw restrictions relaxed and families allowed to mix in a ‘bubble’ of three households for one day, will ‘play out’- adding that we could start to see effects of that over the next few days.

He told African Voices: “Just after Christmas the rates are at about 150 cases per 100,000 of the population, around 50 cases per day.

“What we don't know yet is the impact of Christmas. Lots of people will have mixed over Christmas, there are no two ways about it.

“Hopefully people have been careful about it, but we’ll see over the next few days.”

Mr Fell also warned that hospitals are ‘busy’ across South Yorkshire, branding national reports claiming hospitals are quieter than last year as ‘simply not true’ while sapping ‘what morale the NHS have left’.

The Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have continued to record coronavirus-related fatalities daily and throughout the festive period.

Yesterday, a further six deaths were recorded in the city, bringing the city’s death toll to 595.

Across South Yorkshire, figures show 1,987 patients who tested positive for the virus have died since the pandemic hit.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.