STRATFORD district now has the lowest Covid rate in Warwickshire after topping the table for the whole of the West Midlands just a month ago – but that’s not the full story.
According to the latest figures from the Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull dashboard, infection rates have almost tripled in the space of a month in some places and all areas have seen their rates rise.
This includes Stratford district. On June 12 its Covid rate was 166.80 per 100,000 people and now, as of July 12, it stands at 245.97. Whilst this is a significant rise compared to last month, the district nevertheless has the lowest Covid rate in Warwickshire because rates in many other areas have sky rocketed.
Rugby, and Nuneaton and Bedworth in particular have seen their rates soar.
Rugby has the highest rate in the whole of the West Midlands, standing at 370.86 as of the seven days up to July 12. This is more than double the previous month when it stood at 158.81.
Data for the week up to July 12 also shows that Warwick district is in the top ten hardest hit areas. Its rate stood at 290.78. This is in comparison to 162.08 last month.
The actual rates across the region could be even higher as testing is no longer free.
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 continued: “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”.
