One year on: Call to remain vigilant despite fall in coronavirus cases across Shropshire

It is 12 months tomorrow since the UK recorded its first case of Covid.

It was an event that was reported, but without any feeling of alarm or sense of what was to come.

Today the death toll linked to hospitals in Shropshire and Mid Wales stands at more than 600.

And, while vaccinations have started to ramp up, our county is having to catch up its rate of giving inoculations compared to other parts of the country.

Cases of coronavirus may be falling across the region but health experts today warned people they must remain vigilant. They say the lesson of the last 12 months is that we can never be off our guard.

There were 1,168 new cases reported in Shropshire Council's area in the seven days to January 21 – a 14 per cent drop compared to the previous week.

In Telford and Wrekin, 701 people were diagnosed with Covid-19 last week – a 23 per cent decrease from the week before.

But the region's health chiefs say there is still a tremendous amount of pressure on hospitals.

Responsibility

Liz Noakes, Telford and Wrekin’s director for public health, said: “It's good news that cases are beginning to decline in Telford and Wrekin but our local NHS is under significant pressure and will continue to be so for some time.

“This is shown by the sad reality that more people died last week with the virus than at any point since the start of the pandemic.

“It is an awful reminder that this virus is deadly to many and that we all have a responsibility to play our part to prevent the spread of the virus.

“Thank you to everyone for following the rules by staying at home – this supports doctors and nurses during this tough period but also ensures that the NHS is there for us should we need them.

“We all need to act like they have the virus, and that those they meet are carrying it too. It is crucial that people regularly wash hands, wear face coverings, and social distance 100 per cent of the time."

She said more rapid testing sites will be opening soon across the borough for those over the age of 16 who are not displaying symptoms to get tested – especially for those people who can’t avoid leaving home for work.

Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health, said the infection rate is still high.

“Our doctors, nurses and health and care staff are working long hours in very difficult circumstances to care for growing numbers of seriously ill patients," she added.

"The number of patients with Covid-19 in our hospitals is now significantly higher than it was during the first wave of the pandemic.

“The message is very clear – Stay at Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives.

"I would ask that everyone in our local communities sticks to the rules and only leaves home if absolutely necessary.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel as we learn more about the virus, treatments, can test more people quickly, and of course with the rollout of the vaccines, though the impact of this will only be seen as the numbers who have received it rise over the months ahead.

"Therefore, it is even more important than ever to reduce the spread of infection and preventing avoidable deaths must be everyone’s top priority.”