Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, Dan Jarvis, said: “After conversations with Number 10 officials on Friday night regarding local coronavirus restrictions in South Yorkshire, local authority leaders, directors of public heath and I have been working flat out over the weekend to agree the next steps with Government which will help protect lives, jobs and businesses from further harm.
“Ultimately the decision to impose additional restrictions and the severity at which they apply lies with central Government. We are walking an incredibly fine line between measures to stop the spread of the virus and the threat to jobs and businesses. Across the North we’ve seen restrictions imposed without support and that is something we cannot afford.
“That’s why before any additional restrictions come into force, I am pressing Ministers for a local lockdown lifeline for South Yorkshire – a substantial package of powers and resources we need to get the virus under control.
“As it stands, we are trying to fight this virus with one hand tied behind our back because the Government is providing inadequate support. It is critical South Yorkshire receives additional resources at all tiers of restrictions, so we prevent more lives, jobs and business being put in peril.”
