03/03/2022 - Permalink

Coronavirus: COVID-19 cases continue to fall, but caution urged

Related topics: Coronavirus / Health / Partner organisations

During the seven-day period between 18 February– 24 February 2022:

  • 1,022 new COVID-19 cases reported
  • A decrease of 26% on the previous week
  • The 7-day infection rate for Shropshire was  314.1 per 100,000
  • It was 239.6  per 100,000 for the West Midlands, and 311.7 per 100,000 for England
  • 39 hospital beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients
  • 4 COVID-19-related deaths in a local hospital.
COVID-19 weekly stats - 18-24 February 2022 infographic

COVID-19 weekly stats – 18-24 February 2022

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

“Last week the Government announced the next step in its coronavirus strategy, “Living with COVID-19”, and we are supporting this by providing advice to help people make informed decisions, in order to live safely alongside coronavirus.

“While cases continue to fall, legal restrictions have been removed, and most testing reduced, the pandemic is not over.

“To help us all live safely alongside coronavirus, and to protect the NHS, vaccines remain the best form of protection. It’s never too late to get vaccinated. Click here to find your nearest walk-in clinic for the 1st, 2nd, or booster dose.”

“Good hand hygiene, wearing masks in crowded spaces, and social distancing, remain important in helping reduce infections.

“Since 24 February you are no longer legally required to self-isolate if you test positive with a Lateral Flow Test or a PCR test. However, we strongly advise everybody to stay at home and avoid contact with others if you test positive or have symptoms. Free tests are still available until Thursday 31 March.”

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care and public health, added:-

“We want to thank everybody who have gone above and beyond to help prevent the spread of the virus.

“However, we still urge everyone to continue to follow the updated public health guidance to protect themselves and others, particularly those who may become seriously ill if infected with COVID-19.

“Updated guidance includes important and easy to follow healthy behaviours which many have adopted during the pandemic, to help you avoid spreading the virus and developing COVID-19, including:

  • Let fresh air in if you meet indoors – meeting outdoors is safer
  • Consider wearing a face covering
  • Washing your hands regularly
  • Get tested and stay at home if you have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19

“If we continue to play our part and continue with these behaviours, we will start getting back to some form of normality again, which I know we all want to do.”

Further information

The Prime Minister announced the Government’s ‘Living with COVID-19’ plan on 21 February. A summary of the key points and changes include:

  • The requirement to self-isolate following a positive test result ended on 24 February.
  • The requirement to test for 7 days after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive ended on 24 February.
  • Routine contact tracing ended on 24 February.
  • Free testing (with exceptions for those who are more vulnerable to COVID-19, and some high-risk settings) will end from 1 April.
  • Recommendation that certain venues use the NHS COVID Pass will end from 1 April.

The ‘Living with COVID-19’ publication can be read here.