Covid's not over – stay alert as 1,100 test positive in week

Residents are being urged to be on their guard as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted today, after more than 1,100 people in Wolverhampton tested positive for the virus in the last week.

Latest figures show there were 426.4 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Wolverhampton over the last seven days, meaning 1,121 people in the city tested positive for the virus in that same period – though the true number of new cases will likely be higher.

And with case numbers nationally at their highest point in six months and hospitalisations increasing, the City of Wolverhampton Council is strongly advising people to continue to act with extreme caution.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "Our message is clear: Covid's not over.

"Well over 1,100 people in Wolverhampton tested positive for this potentially deadly virus in the last week alone, and all the indications are that, nationally, we are heading for the biggest wave of infections so far.

“The life-saving vaccine is helping to keep hospitalisations down and preventing many more people from becoming seriously ill, but sadly the growth of infections means that more people will die with Covid-19 in the days, weeks and months ahead.

“These are worrying times, so we need to stay alert, be cautious, act carefully and use common sense to protect ourselves and others.

"That means staying safe when we meet others, getting vaccinated when we have the chance, keeping our distance from each other, wearing a face covering in enclosed public places like in shops and on buses, trains and trams, and getting tested regularly.

“If you are meeting up with others, please try to spend as much time outside as possible, and minimise social contacts as much as you can.

"As a council, we are taking this approach, and we are strongly urging all residents, city businesses and other organisations to do the same to help keep infection rates as low as possible.”
For full details of the current measures, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/covid-alert.

People are reminded they must still book a PCR test if they have symptoms of Covid-19 via www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

People must also isolate when positive or when contacted by NHS Test and Trace while everyone arriving from red list countries must quarantine – as must those people not fully vaccinated arriving from amber list countries.

People without symptoms of Covid-19 are encouraged to get a regular rapid – details at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/get-tested – in order to reassure themselves and others that they don’t have the virus.