Get your jab plea as Covid infections spike in city

Covid-19 rates in Wolverhampton are now the highest they have been in nearly four months, with over 260 people in the city testing positive for the deadly virus last week.

Latest figures show there were 100.2 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Wolverhampton over the seven days to 25 June. That means a total of 263 people tested positive in that same seven day period – though the true number of new cases will likely be higher.

The last time the infection rate was this high was on 28 February, when it reached 100.8 cases per 100,000 residents.

John Denley, Wolverhampton's Director of Public Health, said: "The Wolverhampton Covid rate has today risen above the 100 cases per 100,000 residents mark, for the first time since the end of February.

"This is alarming, but we are not unique – cases are rising in almost every part of the country.

“Reassuringly, at this point, few people with Covid-19 are ending up in our hospitals and this is in a very great part thanks to the impact of the vaccine.

"We know how effective the vaccine is proving to be against coronavirus, including the new more transmissible Delta variant, and that is being demonstrated in the data – people who contract Covid-19 are, thankfully, not becoming so ill.

"So the message is clear, please come forward for your vaccine if you haven't already had it, because it could prove to be life-saving.

"A high proportion of the cases we are now seeing are among younger people who have only just become eligible for the vaccine so, again, if you have not booked your jab yet, make sure you do so as soon as possible.

"You can book an appointment by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine or you can visit the vaccination bus which is at All Saints Community Centre, off All Saints Road, tomorrow and Wednesday, and then at Low Hill Community Centre from Thursday to Saturday, or you can pop into our walk-in vaccination clinic at Aldersley Leisure Village, which is offering both first and second doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from 2pm-7pm today and 4pm-7pm on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"It's important to remember that you need to have both doses of the vaccine to receive the maximum level of protection against Covid-19, and even after you've had both jabs you should continue the follow the Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air guidance in place to stop the spread of this deadly virus.

“You should immediately get a PCR test if you develop symptoms and I would strongly urge everyone without symptoms to get a free rapid Covid-19 test every three or four days, particularly if you are planning to meet up with people you don't live with, to reassure yourselves and others that you don't have the virus."

For more information about the vaccine, including the answers to frequently asked questions, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/vaccine or www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination.

For details of rapid testing, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/get-tested. Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19, which include a fever, a new continuous cough or a change to the sense of taste or smell, must immediately self-isolate and book a PCR test by visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or calling 119.