Remain vigilant and protect yourself as Covid cases rise

Press release from City of Wolverhampton Council dated Monday 4 July 2022

With Covid-19 infection rates rising rapidly, residents are being urged to remain vigilant to the virus and reminded that first, second and booster vaccinations are still widely available in Wolverhampton.

Latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), released on Friday, suggest that 1,829,100 people in England had Covid in the week up to 24 June – equivalent to 3.35% of the population or around 1 in 30 people. A week earlier that rate was 1 in 40, marking an increase of around 30% in seven days.

In Wolverhampton, 434 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the last week, though with free testing no longer widely available the true number of new cases is likely to be considerably higher.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said:

"The latest estimates from the ONS show that tens of thousands of people are getting infected with Covid-19 each and every day.

"Fortunately, the number of people falling seriously ill or dying with Covid-19 remains low, and that's primarily due to the impact of the vaccine.

"So, if you haven't already had your first or second jab, or your booster, please get it as soon as possible. Remember that getting your booster when it is due is particularly important because we know that the effectiveness of the vaccine wanes after time."

For details of local walk-in Covid-19 vaccination clinics, please visit https://bit.ly/3HmGV5a. People can also book an appointment via https://bit.ly/3dtsler or by calling 119.

She added:

"There are also plenty of other things you can continue to do to protect yourself, your family and friends from Covid-19.

"Wash your hands regularly and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and please consider wearing a face covering in crowded or enclosed places and when you might come into contact with people at higher risk from Covid-19. Try to let in fresh air when you meet others indoors, especially if they're at high risk from Covid-19, though it remains safest to meet outdoors if you can.

"And remember that, if you feel unwell and have cold, flu or Covid-like symptoms and a high temperature, please avoid close contact with others and stay home if you can."