Walsall getting ‘bad press’ over Covid, claims council health chief

Stephen Craddock, Walsall Council portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, said there was no major increase in the number of confirmed cases at this moment.

Walsall has been listed one of a number of areas that could follow Leicester into being ordered under local lockdown. It has also previously recorded the highest number of confirmed cases in the Black Country.

Medics have warned the council and health bodies must be prepared to take action locally if a consistent rise in cases happens again.

Councillor Craddock said: “There’s been a lot of press about Walsall being a high-risk area.

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“Our cases went from two in a week to four in a week so there was a 100 per cent increase. But then in the last seven days, it’s gone down to two again so we’ve only had a 50 per cent decrease.

“It’s a very low level and if you compare that with some of the other regions where they’re having much bigger seven days totals, Walsall is being given an unfair press at the moment so don’t believe everything you read.

“There is not a major spike happening at the moment.”

Dr Anand Rischie, chairman of Walsall clinical commissioning group, called on the council cabinet to take action and not wait on national recommendations if health experts recommend it.

He said: “We need to have a threshold and agree on something where we are going to make that call

“If, for example, we are going to see 10 new cases everyday for three days or the hospital sees 10 new admissions for Covid pneumonia everyday for three days – we need to agree on something.

“I agree that having that 100 per cent on two to four cases is not a sensible call but Walsall has previously seen the highest number of infections so we need to be absolutely prepared for it.”