COUNCIL Leader Ian Courts has spoken of his frustration as Solihull’s Covid rates remain stubbornly around 350-380 per 100,000 people – the highest in the West Midlands.
The case rates remain highest in the 16-24 age group but he said there had been a worrying increase in the 60+ age group – now 28 per cent of cases over the past week to 132.4 per 100,000 people.
According to the latest figures Solihull had 375 cases of Covid per 100,000 people in the week to August 12.
That’s an increase of 36 over the previous week.
By comparison neighbouring Birmingham has 329 cases per 100,000, a drop of 21 on the previous week.
Sandwell, also in the West Midlands Combined Authority, had 324 cases per 100,000 with no change over the previous week.
The average for England is 284 cases.
“We know the older you are, the harder it is to deal with Covid,” said Councillor Courts.
“The high rates among the young mean community transmission is inevitable and that is why older people are getting infected.
“So the messages remain the same – get double jabbed and keep getting tested, don’t be the one passing this virus on.
“More than 84 per cent of residents aged 18 and over have had their first vaccination, with around 75 per cent having had both doses.
“But we need everyone who can, to grab a jab, especially 16 and 17 year olds, now that the vaccine has been opened up to them.”
He added that local family doctors would be contacting people for their first or second doses, or appointments could be booked online for those aged 18 and over.
The Pfizer jab is available in Mell Square, Solihull town centre tomorrow, Thursday, August 19 and Friday, August 20 from 9am to 5.30pm.
