Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust is offering a series of free Wild Wellbeing days for people who volunteered their time and skills during the Coronavirus pandemic. The free activities are aimed at thanking volunteers for their contributions during the pandemic whilst enabling them to take part in creative nature-inspired activities. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoe to Jenny King of Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust.

Covid-19 cases in Sheffield have seen a rapid rise in recent weeks with health chief’s urging caution following the end of lockdown restrictions and free testing. Ruth Granger, health protection manager for Pubic Health Sheffield told Sheffield Live! people should to continue to isolate if they have Covid symptoms or test positive. Azz Mohammed reports.

Sally Conlan, deputy nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and leading the vaccine program in the city, advised residents who have not yet done so to get the booster jab to protect themselves and their friends. Her comments came as UK medical experts confirmed a fourth Covid vaccine jab is not yet needed because booster doses continue to provide high protection against severe disease from the Omicron variant among older adults. Data from the UK Health Security Agency shows three months after the booster dose, protection against hospitalisation remains at about 90 per cent for people aged 65 and over. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

The number of positive Omicron-related Covid cases has “sky-rocketed” according to Greg Fell, director of public health for Sheffield. The number of positive cases are in the region of 2000 per 100,000, mostly among working age adults. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

A new health campaign has been launched in Yorkshire to help reduce the risk of serious illness or being hospitalised with Covid-19. Better Health is working in partnership with a group of physical activity and weight management partners who are providing both free and discounted support offers. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Peter Kelly, regional director for public health Yorkshire and the North East.

Sheffield’s director for public health Greg Fell told Sheffield Live! that cases of the Covid-19 Omicron variant are rising rapidly with a risk of more people becoming seriously ill. He urged the public to take precautions over the festive period and to take up the booster vaccination or to get vaccinated for the first time if they have not already done so. The government has announced he quarantine period for those infected has been reduced from ten to seven days. Azz Mohammed reports.

Venue managers fear more damage to business as new Covid safety restrictions come into place to combat the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. Stevie Day, managing director of Fewer Than One nightclub told Sheffield Live! the venue is already in debt and could face closure without further support. Azz Mohammed reports.

With new Covid-19 restrictions set to come into force this week in a bid to reduce the spread of the Omicron variant, Sheffield Live! asked local residents for their views. From Wednesday, under the new rules, anyone visiting pubs, nightclubs, or indoor unseated venues with more than 500 people will have to show they are vaccinated against the coronavirus or provide a negative lateral flow test to be allowed in. Baillor Jalloh reports.