South Yorkshire to move to strictest Covid alert level

South Yorkshire to move to strictest Covid alert level

People in South Yorkshire will be forced to live under England’s toughest Covid restrictions from Saturday, it has been announced.

The move to tier three will affect Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.

Labour Mayor of the Sheffield City Region Dan Jarvis said the move to tier three followed “extensive discussions” with ministers.

He said local leaders had secured £41 million of funding from the government to “support our people and businesses” hit by the change that will particularly affect hospitality workers and taxi drivers.

The new rules in South Yorkshire will come into force from 1am on Saturday.

Under tier three, England’s “very high” level of alert, residents are banned from mixing with other households indoors and most outdoor spaces, with pubs and bars force to close unless they can operate as restaurants and non-essential travel advised against.

People should try to avoid travelling outside the ‘Very High’ area they are in, or entering a ‘Very High’ area, other than for things like work, education, accessing youth services, to meet caring responsibilities or if they are in transit.

They should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK if they are resident in a ‘Very High’ area, or avoid staying overnight in a ‘Very High’ area if they are resident elsewhere.

Additional rules in South Yorkshire include the closure of betting shops, adult gaming centres, casinos, soft play centres and gym classes – though gyms will remain open.

Mr Jarvis said it was the “responsible route” and that “inaction was not an option” after its number of hospital admissions doubled in 10 days.

He said a “local lockdown lifeline” from the government meant “we are better equipped to control the virus and limit some of the damage on jobs and businesses”.

“If restrictions are effective, individual local authorities will be able to move to lower alert levels as soon as it is safe to do so, in consultation with fellow local leaders, myself and national government,” he added.

The government’s three-tier strategy of regional measures is designed to avoid a national lockdown.

Last week, Boris Johnson told three NHS Nightingale hospitals set up to stop the health service being overwhelmed to prepare to start accepting patients again, including the one for Yorkshire and the Humber.

Photo: Anton Velchev