Health officials urge caution despite fall in Covid-19 cases

There were 1,022 new Covid-19 cases reported between February 18 and February 24, which is a 26 per cent decrease on the previous week.

Covid-19 patients were occupying 39 hospital beds and there were four Covid-19 related deaths in a local hospital.

Shropshire Council are providing advice to the public as part of the Government's "Living with Covid-19" strategy.

Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health, said: "Last week the Government announced the next step in its coronavirus strategy, 'Living with Covid-19,' and we are supporting this by providing advice to help people make informed decisions, in order to live safely alongside Covid-19.

"While cases continue to fall, legal restrictions have been removed, and most testing reduced, the pandemic is not over.

"Good hand hygiene, wearing masks in crowded spaces, and social distancing, remain important in helping reduce infections.

"Since February 24, you are no longer legally required to self-isolate if you test positive with a lateral flow test or a PCR test.

"However, we strongly advise everybody to stay at home and avoid contact with others if you test positive or have symptoms.

"Free tests are still available until Thursday, March 31."

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care and public health, added:" We want to thank everybody who have gone above and beyond to help prevent the spread of the virus.

"However, we still urge everyone to continue to follow the updated public health guidance to protect themselves and others, particularly those who may become seriously ill if infected with Covid-19.

"If we continue to play our part and continue with these behaviours, we will start getting back to some form of normality again, which I know we all want to do."

The seven-day infection rate for Shropshire was 314.1 per 100,000.

For the West Midlands, it was 239.6 and for the whole of England, it was 311.7.