JUST five people over the age of 60 have tested positive for Covid in Solihull in the last two weeks says the borough’s director of public health Ruth Tennant.
And she heralded the efforts of local people with Solihull’s Covid rate now 26 per 100,000 in the week to April 10, down from 180 cases two weeks ago.
“This means the number of people requiring hospital care for Covid has fallen a lot and, because rates are lower, people’s chance of coming into contact with someone with Covid is much lower,” she said.
However she added: “We are on the right road but with many people unvaccinated, there is still a risk of another big increase in cases which could slow down our path to further reopening.
“And although many of the most vulnerable have been vaccinated, the vaccination does not provide 100 per cent protection for everyone.
“The message needs to be to stay careful, stick with hands, face and space and good indoor ventilation.
“Remember that you cannot visit other people’s houses, you can only meet up with people outside in their gardens, not inside their homes.”
The authority is also urging people to take twice a week Lateral Flow Tests which can help identify those with no symptoms but who may be carriers of the virus.
The tests are available at community collect sites where people can pick up them up to do at home or opt for an assisted test at a local centre.
Everyone over the age of 18 is being advised to do this twice a week and secondary aged pupils are also being given kits to do at home.
Close to 115,000 residents in Solihull have already had their first jab and more than 25,000 their second.
Ms Tennant said: “Please go for your vaccine when you are called for your first or second dose.”
