“Summer will be more normal” says Sheffield health chief as he gives optimistic update

Sheffield has one of the lowest Covid rates in Yorkshire and the city’s health chief says there is “light at the end of a very long tunnel”.
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The R rate is between 0.7 and 0.9 but positive tests are just 4.5 per cent – a fall from around 13 per cent a couple of months ago.

Director of Public Health Greg Fell told a council meeting that last week in South Yorkshire there were about 1,500 cases. That’s down 500 from the week before but Mr Fell said it was still a “significant number”.

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He added: “Sheffield has the lowest rate in South Yorkshire and one of the lowest rates in Yorkshire so credit to everybody who’s made that so.

Greg Fell - Director for Public Health Sheffield. Picture: Chris EtchellsGreg Fell - Director for Public Health Sheffield. Picture: Chris Etchells
Greg Fell - Director for Public Health Sheffield. Picture: Chris Etchells

“That hasn’t happened by magic, it’s happened because lots of people followed the rules.

“There is light at the end of a very long tunnel and I’m much more positive about the epidemiology than I have been for quite some time.”

Hospital activity has been falling for more than a month due to lockdown and cases in the elderly are also falling very quickly. Mr Fell said almost universally, cases in elderly people were very mild or asymptomatic thanks to the vaccine.

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He added: “The epidemiology isn’t quite as positive in the working age population and the school age population is now definitely ticking up again nationally.

“As more children get back into school there’s more opportunity for spreads. That that was always going to happen and we need to bear in mind the positive impacts of kids being in school and having an education.

“The road map is definitely right, we’re opening cautiously. Cases will go up but vaccination is helping us control the harm.

“Many of the basic public health messages will continue over the summer but I think summer will be considerably more normal than the winter we’ve just left.

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“As we open up the country, cases will go up but for now I think we’re in pretty good shape.”

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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.