Sheffield braces itself as health chief warns coronavirus will hit

Sheffield has no cases of the coronavirus - but it is expected to hit the city because the “situation is changing rapidly”, a leading health chief has said.
By Lucy Ashton, Local Democracy Reporter
Published 4th Mar 2020, 18:01 BST
Updated 6th Mar 2020, 10:15 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Pods are being set up at the Hallamshire, Northern General and Children’s Hospital so suspected cases can be kept away from A&E and there will be testing in the community.

Director of Public Health Greg Fell says he doesn’t expect there to be a vaccine created this year but most people should only get mild symptoms.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Fell says the NHS is in good shape to cope but he has serious concerns about how it will impact on businesses if people become ill, or need time off work as carers.

Greg Fell, Sheffield Director of Public Health, pictured. Picture: NSST-04-03-20 Fell 4-NMSYGreg Fell, Sheffield Director of Public Health, pictured. Picture: NSST-04-03-20 Fell 4-NMSY
Greg Fell, Sheffield Director of Public Health, pictured. Picture: NSST-04-03-20 Fell 4-NMSY

He told a full council meeting: “There are no Sheffield residents affected by the illness but we know that will change.

“The situation, advice and guidance changes rapidly and a week ago I would be saying something very different to now. There’s a lot of emerging issues and it is testing us.

“There's a small number of cases in this country. There is not an outbreak in this country, we are dealing with ripples. That will change but we don't know when or where.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The UK has excellent containment measures so there is a relatively small number of cases to treat.

Left: Greg Fell. Right: An Emergency Department Nurse during a demonstration of the Coronavirus pod and COVID-19 virus testing procedures set-up beside the Emergency Department of Antrim Area Hospital, Co Antrim in Northern Ireland. PA PhotoLeft: Greg Fell. Right: An Emergency Department Nurse during a demonstration of the Coronavirus pod and COVID-19 virus testing procedures set-up beside the Emergency Department of Antrim Area Hospital, Co Antrim in Northern Ireland. PA Photo
Left: Greg Fell. Right: An Emergency Department Nurse during a demonstration of the Coronavirus pod and COVID-19 virus testing procedures set-up beside the Emergency Department of Antrim Area Hospital, Co Antrim in Northern Ireland. PA Photo

“This is an emerging issue and it's not yet a pandemic but there's no doubt the World Health Organisation will declare one.”

Mr Greg said the aim was to make sure there was minimum impact on the NHS and the economy.

“The NHS is moving heaven and earth to get ready for this. Capacity will be stretched, no two ways about it, and social care is an issue.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“What really worries me is business continuity, especially in small organisations.

Greg Fell, Sheffield Director of Public Health, pictured. Picture: Marie CaleyGreg Fell, Sheffield Director of Public Health, pictured. Picture: Marie Caley
Greg Fell, Sheffield Director of Public Health, pictured. Picture: Marie Caley

“There are 85 people out of a population of 65 million who have tested positive so containment is working really well but it may not work forever.

“It's hard to distinguish between flu and Coronavirus hence the focus on testing people.

“The most important thing is hand washing and the motto catch it, bin it, kill it with tissues.”

Related topics:Greg FellSheffieldNHS