Council chief urges residents to not let guard down as Covid cases fall
Covid infections in Dudley are falling but health bosses are warning residents not to be complacent and stick to lockdown rules.
The rate of positive cases in the borough has now dropped below the 600 mark – the lowest figure in the Black Country.
Figures published on the council’s local outbreak website show the average rate for the last seven days now stands at 582.4 per 100,000 people.
Councillor Nicolas Barlow, Dudley Council's cabinet member for health and adult social care, welcomed the fall and said people should continue to protect themselves and others.
He said: “The rates are slowly declining and I would like to thank everyone who lives and works in the borough for what they’re doing to help stop the spread of this virus.
“However, our figures are still high, with some wards very high, and therefore it’s vital people continue to follow the lockdown guidelines.
“One in three people don’t have symptoms and therefore will not know that they are positive, so all residents should continue to act like they or anyone else could have it.”
The actual number of cases across the borough for the last seven days was down to 1,873 – a fall from 2,150 in the previous week.
Emphasizing the need for caution, Councillor Barlow added: “We must all stay at home to save lives and practise hands, face, space whenever we need to go out for those essential reasons.
“Please take up the testing offer and keep playing your part in keeping Dudley safe. By doing this we all reduce the risk of spreading infection to loved ones.”
Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Walsall are also showing a slow decline in new infections but health bosses warn hospitals in the West Midlands are still dealing with high numbers of Covid admissions.
