Wolverhampton coronavirus cases rise again but rate still lower than Sandwell

There was an average of 12.2 cases per 100,000 residents in Wolverhampton in the seven days up to Monday compared to 2.7 cases per 100,000 a week before, according to Wolverhampton Council.

However this rate of infection is still lower than in neighbouring Sandwell.

Public Health England figures for the week up to Friday show Sandwell's rate of infection was 27.2 new cases per 100,000 people compared to 21.7 the week before, with 89 new cases in the borough.

This is excluding data from the last three days, which is incomplete and likely to be revised, to provide a more accurate representation of the infection rate.

For the same period, Wolverhampton's rate jumped from five new cases per 100,000 people to 13 after 34 new cases were confirmed, while in Birmingham the rate stayed steady, changing from 12.8 to 12.9.

The data shows 16 cases were confirmed in one day in Wolverhampton last Tuesday. This is the highest number of positive tests in Wolverhampton in one day since May 15 but is still substantially lower than the 48 cases recorded in one day during the peak of the first wave in April.

In the same week Dudley the rate went up from 1.9 to 3.1 and in Walsall it decreased from 13.1 to 7.4. The South Staffordshire rate increased from 1.8 to 5.4 but in Stafford it halved from 4.4 to 2.2.

You can see Monday’s full update of the rolling seven-day rate of new cases of Covid-19 for every local authority in England here.

Health chiefs in Wolverhampton say many of the new cases have been linked to family clusters or contacts of known cases.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, Wolverhampton Council's cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said: "The reopening of more businesses over the weekend, including our WV Active leisure centres, was of course very welcome news, but the spike in cases we have seen in Wolverhampton and other parts of the country over the past week or so is an important reminder that coronavirus has not gone away.

“If we were to let down our guard and allow the virus to begin spreading more easily, we risk not only a second wave of cases and more deaths, but also the re-imposition of lockdown measures as we have seen in places like Leicester and Blackburn in recent weeks.

“We need to do all we can to ensure that we avoid a local lockdown in Wolverhampton, and we all have a key role to play in this. It is absolutely vital that if anyone choses to go out they must stay alert to reduce the risk of transmission."

She added: “We also urgently need people to get tested if they have a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste.

“If you have any symptoms, no matter how mild, or you feel you have put yourself at risk of exposure to Covid-19, you must get a test.

“The test is quick and easy, and a crucial tool in stopping the spread of coronavirus. We have a great deal of capacity in Wolverhampton, with two drive through test centres and plans to open a number of walk through centres in the near future, so there’s no excuse not to book a test if you need one.

“Please also carry on social distancing and wear a face covering where it is required, unless you are excused for doing so for any particular reason; we are pleased to see that the vast majority of retailers are enforcing the rules and I would urge everyone to do their bit and follow the guidelines.”