Walsall hits 1,000 Covid deaths milestone

Despite official figures showing a drop in positive cases week on week, a total of 1,002 had died by February 5 since the pandemic began.

The number of positive cases in the borough confirmed in the last seven days is 2,867 – which is a 22 per cent decrease from the week before.

There were 90 inpatients at Walsall Manor Hospital as a result of Covid-19 with two in critical beds, members of Walsall Council’s scrutiny committee were told.

But Councillor Stephen Craddock, portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, said people were being “lulled into a false sense of security” as not all positive cases were being recorded.

He and other health bosses have urged people to continue to take precautions against the virus and get themselves vaccinated.

Emma Thomas, of Walsall Public Health, said positive cases were now at the highest amongst the younger age groups – 5-9 and 10-14 year olds.

Councillor Craddock said: “We have reached the milestone of a thousand deaths in Walsall now which is obviously very sad for all of us.

“I don’t think anyone has escaped being touched by losing somebody they know, a loved one a relative.

“We need to be very careful that the rates are coming down but actually the requirement to get a PCR test if you have a positive LFT has gone.

“Unless you need to record it for your £500 isolation payment or you need to record it for an employer, there are a lot of people who are now testing themselves being positive but it’s not going on the case rates.

“We’re lulling ourselves into a false sense of security. These positive cases are still happening but they won’t be in the case rates.”