Posted on Friday 5th March 2021
Tamworth residents are being thanked by Tamworth Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council for their efforts in helping bring Covid cases down.
However, officials from both councils are reminding the people of Tamworth further hard work lies ahead and to demonstrate extreme caution as the first stage of lockdown easing looms.
In the seven days to 28 February, Tamworth saw 98 people test positive for coronavirus. This equates to 127.8 cases per 100,000 population in Tamworth, a fall from 231 people per 100,000 people from this time last week
However, this figure is still more than the county, West Midlands and England averages.
The new community testing centre, which opened in the Ankerside Shopping Centre on Monday, completed 406 tests and identified 10 people who were positive but showing no symptoms.
All Tamworth businesses have been asked for their continued support around hands, face, space and testing with bigger businesses encouraged to take up rapid testing for their staff if they haven’t already done so.
Although locals are being thanked for efforts made so far, people are being strongly urged to remain cautious and not to be tempted to stretch the new rules that come into force on Monday as the risk in Tamworth still remains high.
Jeremy Oates, Tamworth Borough Council Leader said:
“The latest figures are moving in the right direction and a big thank you must go out to Tamworth residents and businesses for their efforts and hard work to get case rates down.
“However, with schools returning on Monday alongside other freedoms being introduced we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent. We are certainly not out of the woods yet.
“We must build upon this hard work and resilience. People need to keep following the rules and getting tested regularly if they must leave the house. This regular testing advice extends to parents, pupils and teachers returning to school next week.
“Let’s keep this momentum going - so we can get back to the things we all love doing as quickly and safely as possible.”
Dr Richard Harling, Staffordshire County Council’s Director of Health and Care, added:
“Whilst cases in Tamworth are now falling, they do remain high, so there is still lots of work to do - especially with schools returning next week.
“We cannot afford to take our foot off the pedal yet.”
Essential shoppers are able to drop in at the Ankerside Shopping Centre site for a rapid test or people can pre-book a slot at the community testing sites web page. The Ankerside testing site is open seven days a week, 10:00-4:00pm.
There will also be pop-up community testing supporting the above.
People with symptoms or those who have been asked to self-isolate as a close contact of a Covid case should not attend.
For more information on tackling Covid in Tamworth please visit:
Tackling COVID in Tamworth - Staffordshire County Council