THE number of Covid-19 cases in Solihull is continuing to rise, according to new figures to July 9.
The borough currently has an infection rate of 489 per 100,000 with over 1,000 cases in the last week.
The average for England over the same period is 277.
And the news has brought a plea from Councillor Ian Courts, the Leader of Solihull Council, who said he was still in favour of mask wearing, despite the planned easing of restrictions.
He said: “Our Covid rates are now well over 400 cases per 100,000 people, and still rising.
“Please, can everyone who can, get their double dose of vaccine.
“We are on a knife-edge. This invisible virus is set to be with us for the foreseeable future and our best defence remains getting everyone fully vaccinated and taking regular tests.
“However, in the future, it is going to be less about what government rules say, more about common sense behaviour of keeping your distance as much as possible, sanitising and hygiene, as if the next person had a bad case of flu.
“I am still a supporter of mask-wearing.”
Tests for Covid-19 are available at the community testing hubs in Solihull, next to the Halifax bank, or Chelmsley Wood, by the bus interchange.
The government is going ahead with its relaxation of Covid restrictions on Monday, July 19.
