COVID cases in Solihull soared by 21 per cent in the week November 4-10 with 697 infections recorded.
This now puts the overall local rate at 322.1 cases per 100,000 people while the average area in England is 196.
In the critical over 60s age group there has been an 11 per cent increase in cases in the last seven days and now stands at 232 per 100,000.
In addition another seven Solihull residents died from Covid last week.
The borough’s director of public health Ruth Tennant said there was no ‘magic bullet’ to tackle coronavirus but instead everyone had to pull together through a series of measures.
She said: “Our rates have continued to rise, although less sharply than some parts of the region.
“We need to do everything we can during the lockdown to stop the virus spreading.
“The current reduction in social interaction will help with this and I hope to see the figures begin to fall.
“However, if they don’t, it could well mean tighter restrictions having to continue post lockdown.
“Our route out of Covid will not come from one single magic bullet but a whole series of measures and by people continuing to do the right thing for Solihull.”
She added that, although the borough’s testing system was going well, a negative result was not an ‘all clear’, just a snapshot of the current situation.
“Someone getting a negative test one day could then be infected and test positive the next,” she said.
“Also with more testing comes the added responsibility for people to self-isolate and stay at home if they get a positive test.
“Now, more than ever, if you are over 60, live with someone who is vulnerable, or are a student returning home for the holidays in the next few weeks there are simple steps you can take to reduce the risk.”
She added: “We are already planning for the possible outcomes of the government review of the lockdown and will be prepared for whatever level of restrictions we will need to follow to keep Covid rates down.”
