Wolverhampton Council urges against festive get-togethers amid fears of Christmas Covid spike
People have been urged not to visit other households over Christmas and risk a third coronavirus spike.
It follows rising infections in parts of the Black Country and Staffordshire ahead of the planned five-day relaxation of the rules, allowing ‘Christmas bubbles’ to meet up.
Wolverhampton’s infection rate is on the rise, although that has been attributed to the city’s ramped up testing.
Stafford, Cannock Chase and Birmingham have all also recorded rising infection rates in the week up to December 10.
Stafford had an average of 249.1 cases per 100,000 people – a rise of 75 cases from the week before - while Cannock Chase has a rate of 206.4, marking a rise of 19.8 cases.
Ian Brookfield, the leader of Wolverhampton Council, said: “We are advising strongly not to mix during the five days over Christmas.
"The latest medical evidence says this would be a dangerous decision if this is allowed to continue.
"Leaders from across the country are asking the Government to review this before it is too late.”
Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden echoed those calls, saying: “Just because something is legal, it doesn’t mean it is wise.
"We all know that the virus remains potentially deadly and it would be a tragedy if we let our guard down over Christmas, which then contributed to a third spike in cases in January.”
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Meanwhile Councillor Gordon Alcott, deputy leader of Cannock Chase Council, said he would even be sacrificing seeing his own grandchildren over the holidays.
And John Spellar MP, who represents Warley in Sandwell, called for clearer messaging.
He said: “The message has to be, if you are going to see relatives, be careful, otherwise people will ignore it.”
Pressure has grown on the Government to drop the initiative after two medical journals said it would cost lives.
The infection rate in Wolverhampton in the week up to December 10 was 268.1 cases per 100,000 people, a rise of 23.9 cases from the week before.
Wolverhampton South West MP Stuart Anderson said the city has been proactive in rapid testing, meaning more Covid cases have been discovered.
He said: “It is difficult to say whether we should get rid of it. If the rates rise too quick then the Government will take the action to deal with it.”
Wolverhampton is the only Black Country borough with rising rates at the moment, with Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall seeing a fall.
All of the Black Country, Staffordshire and Birmingham are in the toughest Tier 3 restrictions, meaning pubs and restaurants are only allowed to serve takeaways and households are banned from mixing indoors.
