'The news is far worse than we even expected it to be' - Sheffield Star readers react to the city being placed in tier 3

We asked readers of The Star, Sheffield, what they thought about the announcement and if they are being affected by this decision.

This is what they had to say.

Lesley Thompson said: “If everyone got on with it instead of questioning it the sooner we would be out of it, just play the game do as you've been asked.”

Peter Doyle said: “As an 80-year-old, I am grateful for the government’s efforts but I do think the younger generation are being asked to pay a very high price. I can see the village ending up publess.”

Wayne Holland said: “Don't the government realise it's not just, pubs and hotels and the hospitality who suffer? It as a knock on effect. Suppliers, the people who collect the money from them. I could go on forever. It’s going to be a massive ripple effect. I feel for the hospitality, I really do. But most of all I feel for the UK.”

Frankie Sellars-Johnson said they thought the problems began months ago. “I blame the government because they knew it was spreading like wildfire in China but they didn’t stop people from coming into this country and they left it to late.”

Philip Gascoyne said: “We have followed the rules, the numbers are falling, but once again the hospitality industry is singled out for punishment! I fear many of the small independent restaurants and the pubs who are not part of big chains will never open again.”

Michael Shaw had an idea of how to not only stop the tier system, but stop the virus altogether.

He said: “It is a wasted effort. The world has several examples of how to eradicate this virus, but until they control the border it is wasted effort.

"Anyone coming into the UK must stay at a secure isolation facility until they have stayed segregated for 14 days and have tested negative at the end of the stay. Put that in place, then fully lockdown the country. Only big supermarkets, pharmacies and hospitals open. Everything else closed.

"In three months you will have eliminated the virus and then just need to keep the border controls in place.”

Christine Starosta said: “I live north east Derbyshire and was in tier 2 all through lockdown but now put in tier 3. It seems most of the north has, surprise surprise.”

Tony Clark was frustrated by the news. He said: “How the hell can you call them stricter rules when you can go non-essential shopping and have your hair cut? Pubs and restaurants have been shut a month, and the cases have risen. What does that tell you?”

Lynn Smith, who owns a pub, expressed her disappointment and upset at the news.

She said: “I have a pub and I have done everything within my power, and at my own expense, to keep myself, my family, my friends and present and future customers safe.

“It's ridiculous. People are safer in pubs than they are in supermarkets. Pubs help people too, they are central to health and mental health of certain vulnerable people.”

Lisa Hershaw said: “It’s really sad that our pubs will not be re-opening. I feel deeply for the landlords/ landladies and staff in the local pubs and entertainment places. Let’s hope that on December 16 we go to tier 2.”

Patricia Marshall said: “It's what l thought would happen, I feel so sorry for pubs and restaurants and worry about people's jobs. It’s going to get very hard before it gets better. Fingers crossed the new year is better.”

Lauren-Jodie Sykes said she she thought some of the rules were contradictory. She said: “I can go and have my face touched by a beautician but can’t sit in my mother’s house and have a coffee?!

"I can go Christmas shopping and be shoulder to shoulder with other people but god forbid us meeting up with friends in the pub for a drink.”

Emma Timmins was also confused by the rules. She said: “It really riles me that my household can’t go and sit in a restaurant or pub at our own table, not mixing, with others but a beautician from another household can lean over my face and do my brows or lashes and I can sit in a hair dressers with numerous customers and staff in the same indoor setting for a number of hours – which I won’t be doing. These rules baffle me. Open it all up or shut it all down- simple!”

Chris Shaw said: “I have supported the government over the last eight months but this is a clear North/South divide. It’s an absolute disgrace.

"I’d like to see the ‘workings out’ that means London, where all the MP’s and other big wigs reside, can be classified as tier two but somewhere like Old Whittington on the outskirts of Chesterfield, which was previously tier two, is suddenly tier three.This means that other than the shops being open again the full lockdown we have had for the last month effectively will continue indefinitely, so there’s no meals out or visiting your local cafe/coffee house to eat in, despite the owners going the extra mile to make it safe.

"Also, Is it only me that thinks that the placing of Liverpool, previously the worst place for cases, in tier two so rapidly, is designed to ‘reward’ them and show the rest of the UK that if you comply with the government you too might see your tier reduced.”

Philippa Simkiss was more understanding of the rules and said: “He (Prime Minister Boris Johnson) is doing it so we can actually see our family for Christmas. Or does no one want to see their families?”

Laura Kay Hancock, who runs a local business, commented on the impact the new tier system – and the whole lockdown – would have on her.

She said: “My family’s local independent business is being heavily affected. We are a fresh produce supplier and 90 per cent of the areas we supply to are being put into tier 3 restrictions. The news is far worse than we even expected it to be.

"The hospitality trade remaining closed in what should be its busiest month is devastating, especially given the time, money and resources that we know all our customers have put into their businesses to make them Covid secure.

"In our opinion these restaurants, pubs and cafes are far safer than your local supermarket or shopping mall. Although it’s brilliant news for other industries, it makes no sense to us that restaurants cannot open but hairdressers, beauty salons and gyms can open. It’s difficult to understand why the hospitality industry is being penalised. Also, it’s very disappointing to hear that the South are staying in tier 2 and yet again it’s the northern cities which are being penalised.”