Cases of Coronavirus have increased in Sheffield with the reopening of schools and parents breaking guidelines outside schools.

Following the national lockdown and the Government’s next steps plan to return back to normal, all schools in England reopened on Monday, March 8, resulting in an increase of Covid infection rate.

According to Greg Fell, the director of public health in Sheffield, that was always predicted to happen once schools got fully back.

However, there were many reports of children and parents breaking the Covid regulations by attending sleep overs and parents meeting up outside school settings.

Small children with face mask back at school after covid-19 quarantine and lockdown, writing.

In response to these reports Dr Fell said: “The virus is still here, it’s prevalent, but it’s still there and it’s still dangerous.

“School bubbles are designed for school because all of the protective measures that are in place around that, like ventilation, cleaning, face coverings. Therefore, children shouldn’t be mixing with their school bubble outside of school”

According to the infection survey  that was published by the Office of National Statistics, 0.3 per cent of the population have Covid at any one time. In Sheffield’s case, the R rate is fairly stable with 0.7-0.9 infection rate for Yorkshire.

The second dose began to be administrated throughout the country to people who took their first dose in December 2020.

Dr Fell said: “Receiving both doses of the Covid vaccine gives you the best protection from becoming seriously ill if you contract Covid.

“Being vaccinated doesn’t protect you completely but it’s definitely the defence in the fight against the pandemic.”