Pub landlords in Sheffield are worried their businesses will not survive if the early closing restrictions continue for long. Last week the government ordered all pubs, bars and restaurants to shut at 10pm in an effort to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Barrington Spence, owner of Barry’s on London Road and Jonathan Daniel Leigh, supervisor at the Rutland Arms on Brown Street told Sheffield Live! there should be more support from the government to help businesses. Baillor Jalloh reports.
With local lockdowns in force across much of the north of England there is growing concern that frequently changing guidelines are causing confusion. In Sheffield, according to Greg Fell, director for public health, there has been a worrying increase in hospital admissions with most cases coming from household transmissions Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield Council has announced it will be providing more funding to care homes in the city to help the fight against Covid-19. The local authority says it will deliver the additional funding that has been announced by the government in the last week. Sheffield Live! reporter spoke to Councillor George Lindars-Hammond, cabinet member for health and social care.
There has been a rise in Covid-19 cases in Sheffield in the last week with significant spikes in Sharrow and Broomhall. Schools have also seen new Covid-19 cases with Meersbrook Primary School being the most recent to send children home. Greg Fell, Sheffield’s Director of Public Health told Sheffield Live the increases relate mainly to younger people aged 20 to 25 and may be due to students returning to Sheffield early. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
A Sheffield woman’s petition campaign to let parents decide on safe return to schools has racked up over 100,000 signatures. Jennifer Dunstan launched her “Don’t Fine Parents” petition on social media and plans to take legal action against forced return to schools amid the coronavirus pandemic. Jennifer’s son attends a Special Needs School and she herself suffers from an auto-immune disorder. She spoke to Sheffield Live! about her concerns for care of her son in case she catches the virus. Azz Mohammed reports.
Over two dozen demonstrators mounted a protest outside Sheffield Town Hall against the involvement of outsourcing giant Serco in England’s test, track and trace programme. Campaigners say they want the government to end Serco’s contract and instead allocate the funds to local public health protection teams. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Ruth Milson, secretary for Sheffield Save our NHS.
Sheffield GP practices who make up the Seven Hills Primary Care Network have set up a new home visiting service for those shielding from the coronavirus pandemic or otherwise unable to get to a surgery. Over 700 vulnerable people in Sheffield have so far benefited from the service set up by a group of GP practices and funded by NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). With the easing of the lockdown, doctors’ surgeries have reopened but on a strict appointment basis. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Lucy Cormack, GP and clinical director for Seven Hills.
Women asylum seekers and refugees are facing multiple challenges including mental health conditions and homelessness linked to the coronavirus pandemic according to a Sheffield-based support group. In a new report, the social enterprise Development and Women’s Advancement (DEWA) found 82 per cent of women interviewed reported their mental health had worsened and 20 per cent had faced homelessness. Among the problems encountered were difficulties accessing food and accommodation and a lack of language support to enable access to information and services. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to the co-founder and development director of DEWA Ibtissam Al-Farah.
A new mobile testing centre has been opened in Rotherham to encourage residents to get tested if they show any symptoms of Covid-19. The new walk-in local testing site on Forge Island is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and is open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the range of mental health support available in the city. During the lockdown period the country has seen a 20 per cent rise in anxiety and depression but many refrain from talking about mental health issues or seeking help until problems become acute. The campaign is supported by well known Sheffield public figures who have contributed to a video message. The campaign aims to increase the number of people accessing mental health support early. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Abhi Shetty, consultant psychiatrist for the Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust.