RUGBY now has the highest Covid rate in the West Midlands.
According to new figures on the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire dashboard, Covid rates in Rugby have risen to over 370 per 100,000 people for the seven days up to July 12 – more than double the previous month when it stood at 158.81 – and the figure is most likely even higher as testing is no longer free.
Health experts say new dominant strains Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 were driving the recent increase in infections in the West Midlands.
Last month, when Covid rates were lower, Katie Spence, deputy director at UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) West Midlands, told the Observer it was not the time to become complacent as the virus had not gone away.
She said: “We are fortunate that so far the rise in cases has not led to a significant increase in hospital admissions or deaths and this is down to the efficacy of the vaccine and the incredible efforts of people across the country getting vaccinated.
“We’ve learned so much in the last two years but as we move to living with Covid on a long-term basis, every one of us needs to remain vigilant, take precautions, and ensure that we’re up to date with our Covid-19 vaccinations.
“Let’s enjoy the summer and our regained freedoms but keep in mind that Covid-19 hasn’t gone away and we all need to do our bit to live safely.”
