Rotherham and the whole country enters national lockdown - as cases soar in the town

PM Boris Johnson addressed the nation on Monday evening to deliver the latest news, telling people to stay at home. 

Cases in Rotherham have surged since Christmas - the infection rate as of Saturday was 276.2 per 100,000 people, which was up 39 per cent compared to the figure of 199 in the week up to Boxing Day. It followed a steady decline in Rotherham's rate.

Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, Dan Jarvis, backed the move but said the decision was a long time coming.

 “We’ve seen an alarming increase in cases in recent weeks, initially concentrated in London and the South East, but now rates of infection and hospitalisation are rising extremely quickly in almost every region of the UK," he said.

"The new variant of the Covid-19 virus is 50 per cent to 70 per cent more infectious and transmissible and we must do all we can to limit its spread.

“It’s devastating for families and businesses to start the new year with tighter restrictions, but this is the only way we will save lives and prevent our NHS and hospitals from being overwhelmed in the toughest winter we have faced.

“The Prime Minister took too long to take this decision and now needs to urgently set out how the government plans to contain the new variant of the virus until a vaccine can be fully rolled out.

“This plan must come alongside a comprehensive package of financial support for workers and businesses, assistance for schools and students to ensure no young person is further disadvantaged and a long-term recovery plan to level up the economy."

Yesterday Mr Jarvis had called for "Christmas compensation" for businesses in South Yorkshire, adding that the support on offer was inadequate under Tier 3 and must now be urgently reviewed by the Treasury under this new lockdown.

He said: "I understand just how weary and frustrated many people will be, but the lockdown in March reduced the spread of the virus, and if we all follow the rules, this one will as well. For the sake of our families, our communities, and our businesses, everyone needs to play their part.”

Visit National lockdown: Stay at Home - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for further information on what you can and cannot do in this latest lockdown.