Why South Yorkshire should stay in Tier 3 for now – Yorkshire Post Letters

From: Dan Jarvis, Mayor of Sheffield City Region and Labour MP for Barnsley Central.

FOUR of the five key indicators for areas moving out of Tier 3 are still too high in South Yorkshire. Our NHS services remain under massive pressure.

Over 600 people are currently in our region’s hospitals with Covid, with more being admitted every single week. It is imperative that we avoid a devastating third wave in January and put more lives put at risk – just at the point that a vaccine is being rolled out.

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It’s likely, therefore, that the Government will decide to keep South Yorkshire in Tier 3 this week.

Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis.Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis.
Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis.

I’d reiterate that this decision lies solely with national government. Mayors and council leaders are still not being consulted or involved in any meaningful way in the decision-making process. These are decisions taken about us, not with us or by us – which is enormously frustrating and makes a mockery of the Government’s professed commitment to devolution.

Whatever the Government decides, I’ll continue to work around the clock with our local council leaders, Directors of Public Health and our NHS to ensure that we get out of Tier 3 
as quickly and as safely as possible.

I know the enormous challenges this will pose for our businesses, which is why we’re providing support for those severely affected by the restrictions through our Additional Restrictions Grant, making every pound go as far as possible to help those who have fallen through the cracks of national schemes.

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I’d urge eligible businesses to apply for those funds, and I’ll keep on fighting for the additional support and resources our businesses, supply chains and regional economy needs to weather the storm of this awful disease.

Wil Doncaster and the rest of South Yorkshire emerge from Tier 3 restrictions this week?Wil Doncaster and the rest of South Yorkshire emerge from Tier 3 restrictions this week?
Wil Doncaster and the rest of South Yorkshire emerge from Tier 3 restrictions this week?

There is now light at the end of the tunnel, with a vaccine already being rolled our across the country. But until we can ensure enough people have received the vaccine, the threat remains. We must all adhere to the guidance and do our bit to save lives and livelihoods. We are on the home stretch, but we must ensure that we all make it to the finish line.

From: John Hall, Leeds.

I AM 79 years old and I have always felt that I have more common sense in my little finger than all the professors put together.

We should not have delayed the lockdown because of Covid for about three weeks at the beginning of the epidemic. All they had to do was look at Italy and see the mess they were in. Common sense!

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At the beginning they said that it was not necessary to wear face masks. They said that they would not be effective, and that they would be even more dangerous because when we take them we have to touch our face. Anybody with any common sense would know that masks are essential.

How on earth anybody would condone putting untested patients from hospital into care homes is beyond belief.

That is worse than common sense, it’s downright stupid (Mike Padgham, The Yorkshire Post, December 12).

From: Hilary Andrews, Nursery Lane, Leeds.

THE number of Covid positive cases is rising markedly in areas of London, yet there has been a reluctance to put London into Tier 3. This really buys into the idea that there is a North-South divide culture alive and well. Why are businesses in London more important than in Leeds, Sheffield, York, Bradford, Newcastle or Manchester?

From: John O’Connell, Chief Executive, TaxPayers’ Alliance.

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THE pay freeze for MPs is a victory for common sense is an early Christmas present for taxpayers.

With the public finances in such a dire state, many public sector salaries have rightly been capped – so it’s only fair that politicians’ pay rises are also postponed.

But if IPSA really wants Parliament to deliver for the British public, MPs’ pay should be linked to the country’s economic performance.

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