Latest Covid-19 figures reveal slight fall in cases across the county
The number of reported Covid-19 cases has fallen slightly in the Shropshire Council and Telford and Wrekin areas, latest figures show.
The data released from both areas show 50 new cases reported in Shropshire and 39 new cases reported in Telford and Wrekin.
Covid-19 in Shropshire
In the Shropshire Council area, there was a slight decrease of 7.4% on the previous week (54 new cases) with a seven-day infection rate for Shropshire at 15.5 per 100,000 for the period of between 23-29 April 2021.
The Shrewsbury and Atcham area saw 43% of all reported cases. The average age of a person testing positive for Covid-19 is 35.
Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health, said:
“Last week we saw an increase in the number of cases reported following an outbreak at a factory in Wales, so it is encouraging to see the numbers fall slightly again this week.
“We are continuing to deal with a cluster of cases in the north west of Shropshire linked to the factory outbreak, and have seen an additional five positive cases. Once again our Community Reassurance Team has been out in Oswestry this week engaging with the public and offering support and guidance.
“I know everyone is looking forward to 17 May when the restrictions are expected to ease further in Step 3 of the Government’s roadmap; but I urge everyone in Shropshire to remain cautious and follow the guidance. Please continue to take a Lateral Flow Test twice a week, practice ‘hands, face, space and fresh air’, and take up the vaccination offer when it becomes available.”
Covid-19 in Telford and Wrekin
In the Telford and Wrekin Council area which has figures for a different 7-day date range of 26 April - 2 May the figure of 39 Covid-19 cases is seven fewer compared to the previous week of 46, a decrease of 15.2% on the previous week, with a seven-day infection rate of 22 per 100,000.
Liz Noakes, Telford and Wrekin's Director for Public Health, said: "Cases have been between 35 and 55 for several week's now in Telford and Wrekin.
"Several of the new cases can be linked to the cluster of cases in Hadley and Leegomery involving the mutation of the UK-variant.
"We don’t know yet if these new cases are the mutation of the UK Covid variant, but each of these cases will be sequenced in a laboratory to confirm who has the mutation of the Covid-19 variant.
"We continue to monitor the situation closely.
"Testing in the cluster continues; schools in the area are now distributing test kits directly to families.
"I want to say thank you to all those people who have been tested already. Each one helps us to track and stop the spread of the virus."
Targeted testing campaign in Telford
As part of a targeted testing campaign to track the mutation of the UK-variant, Telford and Wrekin Council are asking groups of people in Telford and Wrekin to get tested.
The council is asking the following to get a PCR Covid-19 test even if they are not showing symptoms:
Families with school-aged children in Hadley and Leegomery;
- Their extended families, friends, bubbles, and residents in Hadley & Leegomery.
- Hadley testing centre remains open and no appointment is necessary.
A PCR test can be booked on the government website for any other test site; when booking, people should say the 'council has asked me to get tested even though I do not have symptoms.'
Self-isolation is only required if people have symptoms or if they later receive confirmation of a positive test.
Public Health England has advised that there is no evidence the mutation of the UK-variant causes more serious illness.
Hospital numbers
There were four people diagnosed with Covid-19 in Telford and Shrewsbury hospitals, as of 2 May.
