Don’t be complacent as rules ease, police and health chiefs warn
Police and health chiefs have urged people to stick to the ‘stay at home’ order when the first stage of the region’s exit from lockdown starts next week.
From March 8 schools will reopen and people will be allowed to take part in outdoor recreation with one other person.
But officials have warned that the stay at home order remains in place, meaning people can still only legally leave their house for a limited number of reasons.
Covid hospital admissions have dropped by nearly a quarter over the past week and infection rates have fallen sharply, as lockdown measures and the vaccine rollout continue to have an impact.
John Denley, Wolverhampton’s director of public health, has called on people to “keep going” and exercise the utmost caution to keep Covid under control.
“We have now been living through this pandemic for 12 months. It was a year ago this week that the first Covid-19 cases were confirmed in Wolverhampton and that, very sadly, the first person passed away with coronavirus in our city.
“It has been an incredibly difficult 12 months, but we can now finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“The vaccine rollout is going well and there is growing evidence that it is offering a very high level of protection against this deadly virus. Infection rates are also falling and fewer people are ending up in hospital because of Covid-19.
“But we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that hundreds of people in Wolverhampton are still testing positive for Covid-19 every week, and so we must all continue doing all we can to stop the virus from spreading.
“You should continue to stay home as much as possible, because the less you go out the less likely you are to come into contact with the virus.
Changes
“When you are eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine, please make sure you get it, and remember to get PCR test if you have symptoms of coronavirus, or a rapid Covid-19 test if you don’t.
"Doing all of this is helping to stop the spread of Covid-19 and edging us closer to coming out of lockdown.”
Chief Superintendent Andy Beard, of West Midlands Police, said: “Alongside the Prime Minister’s published roadmap it is really important that we all continue to comply with the current restrictions so that we can achieve the four step changes between now and June.”
The second stage of the first part of the Prime Minister’s roadmap out of lockdown is due to start on March 29, when outdoor gatherings will be allowed of up to six people, or two households if this is larger, not just in parks but also gardens.
Outdoor sport for children and the official stay at home order will end, although people will be encouraged to stay local.
From April 12 non-essential retail, including hair and nail salons, and public buildings such as libraries, will reopen.
