Covid-19 is still putting Wirral’s NHS under “considerable pressure”, even though infection rates are falling.
Cases in Wirral are down more than 50% on last week, but Julie Webster, the borough’s public health director, said pressures on health and social care will continue for “some time to come”.
Ms Webster said: “Although cases are down in Wirral, they are still significantly higher than they were before Omicron.
READ MORE: Plan B restrictions to be lifted in England from next week
“Very high levels of the virus continue to circulate in the community, so it is important to remember that we are not out of the woods yet.
“Locally, the NHS and social care continue to be under considerable pressure – which we expect will be the case for some time to come.
“So that we can keep moving forward, I urge everyone in Wirral to continue to follow the guidance and most importantly get all of their vaccinations.”
Breaking the numbers down to council ward level, Upton had 260 cases in the week up to January 12, more than anywhere else in Wirral, while Bidston and St James (242) and Liscard (232) are the next most infected areas.
But even in these wards, cases are significantly down on last week’s levels, when Upton had 397 cases, Bidston and St James had 419 and Liscard had 423.
Yet case numbers in Wirral remain high.
While the current infection rate of 1,293 per 100,000 may be 53% down on last week, it is still three or four times higher than the numbers we had been seeing as recently as November and early December before Omicron became the dominant variant.
The latest numbers we have show that 98 people were in Wirral's hospitals with Covid-19 on January 11, up from 73 on January 4 and just 28 on December 28.
Commenting on what can be done to help further protect Wirral from the virus, Ms Webster also emphasised the importance of getting vaccinated.
She added: “It’s easier than ever to get your first, second and booster jabs, with pop-up vaccination clinics appearing across the borough as part of our Week of Walk-Ins (WOW) – from libraries to football stadiums to music venues.
“If you’re working during the day, there are clinics running through the evening and weekend.
“In fact, this evening Future Yard in Birkenhead is hosting an NHS pop-up vaccination clinic between 5pm and 9pm.
“After getting your jab, you can head to their bar area to collect a free hot drink and a cake, to enjoy in the venue, while listening to some music.”
At a national level Boris Johnson has announced the vast majority of Plan B covid restrictions currently in place in England will be lifted next week.
But there will still be a legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive for Covid-19.
Covid-19 cases in every Wirral ward (week up to January 12):
- Upton 260
- Bidston and St James 242
- Liscard 232
- Birkenhead and Tranmere 226
- Rock Ferry 224
- Seacombe 223
- Wallasey 216
- Bromborough 210
- Bebington 209
- Claughton 202
- Leasowe and Moreton East 198
- New Brighton 174
- Prenton 174
- Moreton West and Saughall Massie 170
- Eastham 169
- Oxton 167
- Pensby 164
- Greasby, Frankby and Irby 162
- Clatterbridge 152
- Heswall 139
- Hoylake and Meols 127
- West Kirby and Thurstaston 116
