The leader of Birmingham City Council has appealed for citizens to stringently follow public safety advice – in a bid to control a local increase in COVID-19 cases – as the city was added to the government’s national ‘watch list’ as an “area of advanced support”.
Coronavirus cases rise
The city was moved onto the list as cases of COVID-19 rose to 30.2 per 100,000 of population over the last week, with more than half the cases being within the 18 to 34 age group.
To put the numbers into some perspective, cases in Oldham and Blackburn with Darwen which top the watch list and are at ‘intervention’ level sit at around 100 per 100,000 in latest figures.
In discussions, Birmingham City Council and the government have agreed initially to make Birmingham an ‘area of enhanced support’, meaning the area will benefit from additional testing, locally led contact tracing and targeted community engagement.
Announcement expected
The authority has warned for several days of the need for vigilance regarding COVID-19 prevention as the numbers of positive tests have crept up. On Tuesday (18th August) all non-essential visits to care home residents in the city were temporarily suspended in a bid to maintain the safety of some of the city’s most vulnerable residents.
Birmingham is also one of the first councils to pilot a ‘drop and collect’ testing service for residents who have symptoms but find it difficult to leave their home to get a test.
And now, a new campaign asks residents to ‘Use your head, stop the spread’.
Cllr Ward said: “As we have previously said, this announcement was expected following rising coronavirus case numbers here in Birmingham. We are working with our partners locally and at a government level to shape plans and secure the resources such as extra testing that we need that will get the infection rate down.”
“Wake-up call”
And Cllr Ward appealed to citizens to do their part in controlling the virus. He said: “If our previous warnings to keep doing the basics haven’t been enough, this has to be the wake-up call for everyone. Wash your hands, wear face coverings wherever possible, keep 2m apart from others and get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms.”
Urgent talks
As well as discussions on a local level, urgent talks on next steps for the city between local and council leaders, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock will take place today.
Cllr Ward said residents would be kept informed, saying: “We will make announcements as soon as possible about what this means for the people of the city.”
BVoices is committed in supporting communities across south west Birmingham and surrounding by keeping them informed and engaged.
Please see the following:
• Community Chat for south west Birmingham • Coronavirus support
• Community Classroom – Resources for parents & carers
• Community Together • Mental Health & Wellbeing through COVID-19
• Community Kindness • Positive acts during the COVID-19 outbreak
• SW Brum Camera Club – for the love of the lens – Photography Birmingham
• SWBrum Jobs Page
• Community Recycle – Repurpose & Reuse – SW Birmingham & Surrounding
