Sheffield Council leader Julie Dore issues message to city residents - 'There is no doubt you are saving lives'

Since Prime Minister Boris Johnson called a full-scale lockdown of the UK on March 23, many in the city have been confined to their homes.

However, thousands of key workers from NHS staff to supermarket employees, and an army of unpaid volunteers, have kept Sheffield running over the past four weeks.

Mrs Dore singled out both groups for praise, describing Sheffield’s overall response to the Covid-19 outbreak as ‘amazing’.

She said: “We will never know how many lives you are saving by staying home but there is no doubt you are saving lives.

“And those volunteering have been doing extraordinary and incredible things - hopefully we can make that last beyond coronavirus.”

For those that have to go out for work or for supplies, Mrs Dore said the Government messages on social distancing and hand-washing were still key.

And she said that the Council was doing everything in its power to get help to those in Sheffield who needed it most - but that they needed to support of everyone in the city to do this.

“We want everybody to be the eyes and ears of people in need,” she said.

“If you are worried or concerned about anyone please call 0114 273 4567 and we will be able to get help to them.

“But it is not just about food and medical supplies. It is about emotional support as well and we can even get things like books or board games for people who don’t have them.”

But Mrs Dore also warned that as well as responding to coronavirus, NHS services in the city were still available for people who have other health problems.

She said: “There is evidence the people may not be seeking health treatment when they need it because they are frightened of catching the virus or they don’t want to waste the NHS’s time.

“But it is really important that if you have the symptoms of a heart attack, a stroke or sepsis that you seek help. The NHS is there for you with covid and without covid.”