AROUND 900 people in Solihull are still getting Covid every single week, says the borough’s director of public health Ruth Tennant.
Solihull’s rate currently stands at 430 cases per 100,000 people and is still the highest in the West Midlands, which has an average of 417 cases per 100,000.
The figure is larger than England’s average which stands at 358 cases per 100,000.
Ms Tennant said: “After schools went back rates increased across the borough, with the large majority of cases in 11 to 15 year olds.
“There are now signs that, after an initial spike, this has peaked and case numbers in our schools have fallen – from a high of more than 1,000 cases to 412 on October 12.
“We have clear plans in place to support schools with outbreaks and we continue to work with schools and head teachers to do this.”
As the vaccine programme still continues to roll out, large numbers of Solihull residents, including teens, have come forward for their vaccination.
In Solihull in all 80.1 per cent of over 12s have had their first vaccine and 74.7 per cent of residents are double jabbed.
Ms Tennant also urged all pregnant women to have the Covid jab as it is particularly dangerous for those who are unvaccinated and their babies.
She said: “In the last six months, 98 per cent of the 1,714 pregnant women admitted to hospitals in the UK with Covid were unvaccinated and 235 of them needed intensive care.
“Our local hospitals provide dedicated support to give the best possible care to any pregnant woman with Covid but, if you are pregnant, please get vaccinated and support anyone you know who is pregnant to do the same.”
In total there are 165 people in local hospitals with Covid and 24 of these are in intensive care.
Ms Tennant added testing numbers remains high across Solihull and encouraged residents to keep testing regularly in a bid to keep the virus at bay.
For more information visit: www.birminghamandsolihullccg.nhs.uk/your-health/flu
