Sheffield braces itself for tougher lockdown restrictions as Covid cases soar
The government's announcing new local measures later today
Sheffield is bracing itself for tougher lockdown restrictions to control soaring rates of coronavirus in the city.
The government's expected to outline new local measures to control the virus later today, as the second wave accelerates across the country.
Sheffield now has one of the highest weekly Covid rates in England after a sharp rise in cases in the last week.
It's inevitable the city will face tougher measures according to Sheffield Heeley MP Louise Haigh:
"It's really distressing given that we were starting to really crack down on the virus and we had it relatively under control that we're now seeing the infection rates rising so considerably. It's now inevitable that we'll be in pretty tough restrictions.
"We need clear communication about why we're going into more restrictions and how we come out of it. Because what I think will be really intolerable for people is if we are effectively facing an entire winter with really strict restrictions."
It's thought the new measures being announced will form a three tier system of local lockdowns to simplify the current range of measures across the country.
The highest tier could includ pubs, bars and restaurants being forced to close.
Tom Lord's a hospitality consultant in Sheffield who also owns a gin company - he says there's no evidence that'll work:
"The government is threatening to lock us down but is not willing to give us any kind of data to show that hospitality venues are part of the problem.
"The data they're using has only been leaked - it's a three month old study from the US.
"Stop blaming us. We are not at fault. And if you have proof that the hospitality industry is a key driver of tranmission of Covid then show us.
"We are all for public safety but that is not what we're getting at the moment. We're getting a hodge podge of restrictions and half-baked ideas that are killing our industry.
"Businesses are already struggling. The furlough scheme helps with paying staff but it doesn't help with rent, it doesn't help with bills, it doesn't help suppliers. We are talking about mass closures."
Local leaders across the North voiced their anger last week at how the government's communicating its latest measures, with details being leaked to newspapers before ministers speak to mayors and council leaders in the affected areas.
Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis tells us he's not convinced new lockdown measures will even work at bringing rates of the virus down:
"We haven't yet seen any area that's gone into lockdown that's so far come out of it. Which obviously raises big questions about how effective the lockdown measures will actually be.
"The rate of reinfection is increasing and we have got to take measures to ensure we stem the flow of the virus and we take control of the sitaution.
"What the government has to do is bring forward measures that are based in evidence that will be able to credibly represent a plan for how we can both maintain public health but also not decimate our economy as well. So I accept that it's a difficult balancing act."