Ask Sheffield’s decision makers a question about coronavirus

Sheffield residents will have the chance to ask questions about how the city is preventing and managing the spread of Covid-19 at a public briefing event tomorrow (Friday 27 November) at 2pm.

The Sheffield Covid-19 Prevention & Management Board hosts question and answer sessions once a month using video conferencing, usually on the fourth Friday of the month.

Questions can be submitted via email up to 9am on the morning of the event, and those interested in watching the briefing need to register for the webinar in advance.

The board is chaired by Council Leader Julie Dore and its membership includes representatives from local political parties, statutory services, key institutions, and voluntary, community and faith groups.

Its remit is to “prevent the disease from spreading, know what is happening in our communities, respond to outbreaks if and when they do occur [and] create confidence in partners and residents that we have a plan in place.”

Last week, Sheffield’s Director of Public Health Greg Fell noted that coronavirus infections were growing at a “much lower and slower rate” compared with the first national lockdown, with the ‘reproduction number’ (R) in Sheffield sitting between 1.2 and 1.5 – meaning that every 100 people carrying the virus would pass it on to between 120 and 150 people.

Commenting on the announcement that Sheffield will return to Tier 3 restrictions when the national lockdown is lifted on 2 December, Fell said, "We’re not out of the woods yet and, even though we are hearing good news about a vaccination it is not in place yet so this is a crucial time for us to keep following the rules.

“That said, what Sheffielders are doing is working. We have the second or third lowest rates in Yorkshire which hasn’t happened by magic; it’s happened because a large proportion of people have followed the guidance and we thank them for that.”