Covid’s not over, so help to keep our city safe

Covid-19 infection rates remain high in Wolverhampton, with over 900 people testing positive each week for the last few weeks.

To stop this spread of the virus increasing further, the city’s residents are being reminded about the steps we can all take to protect ourselves and keep our city safe.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “The most important step people can take to protect themselves and other people around them from the virus is to get fully vaccinated as soon as they can. For people under 18 this means one dose of vaccine and people over the age of 18 should have two doses.”

Anyone who has not yet had a first dose, or is now due their second one, can visit walk-in clinics open around Wolverhampton and get their jab without needing to book ahead. Times and locations are advertised on social media and can also be found at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/local-vaccine

People who are most at risk from coronavirus will also be invited to have a booster dose six months after their second one, to improve the levels of protection they have. Everyone who is due a booster dose will be contacted by their GP or the NHS at the correct time. Frontline health and social care workers are also eligible for booster doses and can book theirs online www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine

Councillor Jaspal continued: “Covid-19 test results show that around one in three people who test positive for coronavirus do not have symptoms but could still pass it on even after vaccination, which reduces but does not prevent transmission to others.

“Regular rapid testing, ideally twice a week, will let you know if you are carrying the virus even if you don’t feel unwell or have other symptoms associated with Covid-19, and reduce the risk of you passing it on to the people around you.”

Anyone who has a positive rapid test result or with symptoms of Covid-19, such as a fever, a new and continuous cough or a loss of the sense of taste or smell, should immediately self-isolate and book a confirmatory PCR test, either online at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test   or by calling NHS 119.

Councillor Jaspal added: “We can all do our bit to protect ourselves and others when we are out and about too, by wearing face coverings on public transport or when in enclosed public spaces and keeping a safe distance from people you don’t live with. When indoors, it’s a good idea to make sure you have good ventilation, ideally by opening a window to disperse any virus particles in the air.”

“Good hand hygiene is also important. Regularly washing your hands or using antibacterial gel help to reduce the chance of you picking the virus up or passing it on to others.”

You can also download and use the NHS Covid-19 App which contains a range of tools such as venue check-in, contract tracing and useful information. The app is free and does not share personal data or track you and uses low energy Bluetooth so will not drain your battery. For more information about the app, visit www.covid19.nhs.uk

Latest figures show there were 346.1 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Wolverhampton over the last seven days. That means 910 people in the city tested positive for the virus in that same period – though the true number of new cases will likely be higher.