Newsroom

The infection rate is now higher than the peak for Telford and Wrekin seen in November and the rate in the over 60s has increased by 109% to 272 per 100,000.

Health leaders are urging people to stay home during the lockdown to stem the spread. 

For the week ending 6 January, the situation in the borough is:

• 802 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 

• This is a 192% rise compared with last week’s total of 275 cases

• The seven day infection rate for Telford and Wrekin is 446 confirmed cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 

• For the West Midlands, the seven day infection rate is 548 confirmed cases of Covid-19 per 100,000

• For England, the seven day infection rate is 608 confirmed cases of Covid-19 per 100,000

• Sadly, 1 person in the borough has died from Covid-19 in the past week (bringing the total borough deaths to 144)

• There were 72 people diagnosed with Covid-19 in Telford and Shrewsbury hospitals, as of 3 January

Liz Noakes, Telford and Wrekin’s Director for Public Health, said: “This is a dramatic rise in cases, it is crucial that residents stay at home and follow the ‘lockdown’ rules to protect the NHS at this critical time. 

“People need to act like everyone has the virus, and that they may be carrying the virus themselves – 1 in 3 people with Covid-19 show no symptoms.

“This means regular hand washing, wearing of face coverings, and social distancing is crucial and must be adhered to 100% of the time.

“If you show any symptoms of coronavirus you must urgently self-isolate and get tested, getting a test is one of the reasons people can leave home in this lockdown.

“The rapid testing centre at the Place, Oakengates, is now open to any resident who is not displaying symptoms to get tested – especially those people who can’t avoid leaving home for work.

“In particular, we are calling on residents in seven of Telford and Wrekin’s wards to get a rapid test as rates in these wards exceed 550 per 100,000.

“If you live in Newport North & West, Apley Castle, Shawbirch, Horsehay & Lightmoor, Priorslee, Admaston & Bratton, and St Georges and are not showing any symptoms – please book a rapid test at the Place, Oakengates next week at http://rapidtest.telford.gov.uk/. 

Rapid tests are for people over 16 years of age who are not displaying symptoms and who have not had a positive coronavirus test in the past. Testing is by appointment only and subject to limited availability.

Liz Noakes, added: “It is not clear what exactly has caused our rates to escalate, but we suspect that the new variant is circulating within the borough and this has combined with mixing of households over Christmas to spread the virus.”

Andy Burford, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: “it is imperative that we all follow the lockdown rules to ensure that the NHS is protected at this time.

“We need to get more vaccines to people in our borough with cases increasing at the rate they are – the government’s vaccination programme is not being rolled out quickly enough locally.

“The council will continue to offer the NHS and government our full support to make this happen.”