18/11/2021 - Permalink

Coronavirus: Shropshire has highest COVID-19 rate in the West Midlands

Related topics: Coronavirus

During the seven-day period between 5-11 November 2021:    

  • 1,538 new COVID-19 cases reported    
  • An increase of 24% on the previous week    
  • The 7-day infection rate for Shropshire was 472.6 per 100,000 
  • It was 344.4 per 100,000 for the West Midlands, and 361.3 for England
  • 60 hospital beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients 
  • 8 COVID-19-related deaths in a local hospital    

Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health, said: 

Cases are rising rapidly across Shropshire and we currently have the highest rates in the West Midlands. This is a common pattern in other rural areas across the country, but it is concerning and we want the rates to come down as quickly as possible.

We all know what we can do to help with this. We’ve done it before so I am asking people to please step up and do it again. Simple things like wearing face coverings in busy places, keeping indoor areas well ventilated and following hands-face-space-fresh air really do work. Testing twice a week, even if you are fully vaccinated, is also key. We need to find these positive cases as soon as possible to stop if from spreading further.

Many of you will now be eligible for the COVID-19 booster jab. Around 63% of eligible people have taken up the offer which is great, but we need this to be higher. If it has been five months since your second dose, you can book the booster online – to have after six months since your last jab – via the National Booking Service, call 119 or go to one of the county’s walk-in clinics.