Cases of virus double as lockdown is eased
Outbreaks in large inner city households ‘contained’
THE number of positive Covid-19 cases in Birmingham has doubled since lockdown was eased in the city in early July, new data reveals.
Positive tests have gone up from around 10 a day at the start of July to an average of more than 20 a day now, according to Government statistics. In neighbouring Sandwell, which has experienced a worrying rise centred on one town, Smethwick, the number of cases has gone up from under five a day to an average of 13 a day now.
While the figures revealed by the weekly positive tests data are not large, they are a vital reminder to get tested at the first sign of symptoms, said Birmingham’s public health director Dr Justin Varney.
Visible spikes of up to 12 cases at a time have occurred in some inner city communities in the last fortnight “generally due to several large households being infected”, said Dr Varney. But each time these have been contained and not spread to the wider community, he said. Predictably, cases have also been detected among those aged 20 to 40, thought to reflect people socialising more.
“We have seen some variation across the city over the last couple weeks as more postcode data has become available to the Public Health Team,” he said, referring to improved access to testing information at local level.
“There have been a few areas that have spiked over the last week or two and these are generally due to several large households being affected – this has led to 10-12 cases in a small geographic area, causing a visible spike. This hasn’t lasted.” In the Hodge Hill ward, a spike of 20 cases detected over a week ago has since fallen away, “suggesting this isn’t a wider community outbreak,” he said.
But he added: “Across the city we have seen a small rise in many areas; these are primarily in 20 to 40 year-olds and reflect people socialising more, rather than being linked to workplaces.
“We are encouraging anyone with symptoms to get a test quickly – ring 119 or go on the NHS website to organise a test, and then talk to the confidential NHS test and trace service to identify anyone at risk so they can be given the right advice quickly to prevent the spread of the disease in the city.”
The update comes as a new report goes to city councillors on progress in containing the virus and preparing for the year ahead.
The report to the council’s new Local Covid Outbreak Engagement Board, meeting Thursday, outlines plans to recruit a local test and trace team to coordinate local outbreak management plans as part of an £8 million investment over two years.
It reveals the city now has three mobile testing sites, set up in the car parks at Brewery Street Coach Station, Moseley Rugby Football Club and Birmingham City Football Stadium,
alongside existing regional test centres.
A new walk-through testing centre opened in Villa Street, Newtown, serving Lozells and other nearby communities, has tested more than 1,600 people in a fortnight.
The site is managed by Deloitte on behalf of NHS England and has bilingual staff and translation support on site, says the report.
People can also get tested by post, but the results usually take two to three days. Test results are quickest from the drivethrough and walk-in sites, the report adds.
Testing uptake in Birmingham is fluctuating, with 472 tests carried out per 100,000 of the population, which is lower than hoped for, said Dr Varney’s report.