Brighton and Hove Covid-19 cases almost half the national rate

Covid-19 cases in Brighton and Hove have dropped again and are now almost half the rate of England.

Today (Thursday April 22) Brigton and Hove Council has said in the seven days up to 16 April, there were 39 confirmed new Covid-19 cases in the city.

This is a 17 per cent decrease on the previous week and equivalent to a weekly rate of 13 per 100,000 residents.

These figures compare well with the rate for England, which was 25 per 100,000 and the South East at 17 per 100,000.

Director of Public Health, Alistair Hill, said: “With things going so well after a such long period of hard work and sacrifice it could be tempting to relax our guard.

“But if we’re to keep on track with the roadmap out of lockdown we all need to keep going. We can’t afford to relax, especially with new variants of Covid-19 circulating in parts of the country.

“The Covid safety habits of ‘hands, face, space and fresh air’ have helped drive down rates of infection. Keeping them up will keep the virus in check. Letting them go will give Covid room to spread again.

“Another routine habit that helps control Covid is symptom-free testing. It’s now quick and easy to pick-up free self-tests when you’re out shopping or get them delivered at home.

“Even as people get vaccinated, we need to test just as frequently to make sure we’re slowing the spread of the virus.

“Vaccinations are crucial if we are to defeat Covid. There are plenty of doses of vaccine available now at several locations around town including the mobile vaccination service that is visiting communities around the city to provide an alternative to the main vaccination centres.

“If you are aged over 45 and didn’t get to book your vaccination when you received your invitation, it’s not too late to do it now.

“And if you cannot make your first or second appointment for any reason, you please cancel and book another date, so that someone else can take your slot. Second dose appointments can’t be brought forward, though, so if you’re planning a holiday that requires full vaccination, you should arrange it for after your second jab.

“Keep safe, it’s not over yet, and keep each other safe too.”