Birmingham placed on Government watchlist amid virus surge and lockdown fears
Birmingham has been placed on the Government’s national watchlist as coronavirus cases are said to be “rising quickly” in the city.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock made the move to place the city on the “Area of Enhanced Support” list amid fears over a local lockdown.
It means the area will receive additional testing, locally-led contract tracing and “targeted”community engagement to help curb the virus spread.
Figures for coronavirus cases, for the seven days leading up to August 17, have revealed a spike in cases in Birmingham – with 332 positive cases and an infection rate of 29.1 per 100,000. It is up from a rate of 25.6 and 292 recorded cases the previous week.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said the increased number was evidence that “some people have not been strict enough” in following the rules.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has spoken with leaders across the region to discuss their next steps as the UK-wide reproduction number (R-rate) hovers between 0.9 and 1.1, signalling a growth in the virus – with fears it has already risen above 1.1.
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Mr Hancock said: “To prevent a second peak and keep Covid-19 under control, we need robust, targeted intervention where we see a spike in cases.
“The only way we can keep on top of this deadly virus is through decisive action led by the people who know their areas best, wherever possible through consensus with a local area.”
“Our approach is to make the action we take as targeted as possible, with the maximum possible local consensus.
“To do that we are introducing a new process to increase engagement between local leaders, both councils and MPs, with the aim of taking as targeted action as possible.
“This will allow local councils to focus resources onto the wards which need more targeted intervention in order to drive infection rates down, and gives local people a stronger voice at the table.
Symptoms
“Remember – if you get any symptoms you can get a free test, and you must isolate if NHS Test and Trace tells you to.”
Figures for Wolverhampton revealed 46 cases had been recorded, with the infection rate standing at 17.5 per 100,000 cases. A total of 37 cases were recorded the previous week – at a rate of 14.0.
In Dudley, the infection rate stands at 5.9 per 100,000 with a total of 19 cases being recorded. It represents a slight decrease from the previous week, where the rate was 6.2 after 20 cases were recorded.
In Walsall,the infection rate stands at 15.4 per 100,000 with a total of 44 new cases being recorded. The figure was 8.1 previously with 23 cases recorded.
Sandwell’s infection rate now stands at 22.5 per 100,00 cases, with a total of 74 cases being recorded. It has fallen slightly from the rate of 26.2 when 86 cases were reported.
South Staffordshire recorded a rate of 1.8 per 100,000 with two cases recorded – down from 4.4 and five cases the previous week.
Staffordshire Moorlands saw a rate of 9.1 per 100,000 with nine cases recorded – up from 1.0 and one case the previous week.
And East Staffordshire recorded a rate of 21.7 per 100,000 with 26 cases – up from 6.7 and eight cases the previous week.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: “People across the region have made an enormous sacrifice since the start of lockdown to keep the virus at bay, but the virus is now returning, and recent efforts to counter that has been insufficient.
“It is evident that some people have not been strict enough when it comes to keeping up the basics of social distancing, hand washing and wearing a face covering, nor following the guidelines on avoiding mass gatherings.
“This has to change immediately, and I would ask every single citizen, both across Birmingham and the West Midlands, to re-double their efforts. We’re in an extremely challenging situation and every individual has a part to play.”
Mr Street said failing to comply with the rules could be “fatal” – with “too many families” already suffering as a result of the virus.
