West Midlands councillors attended a coronavirus briefing today, revealing statistics that may throw Birmingham into a new lockdown.
Birmingham City Councillor Ian Ward announced that the city’s positive test results for coronavirus are 9.1%, which means one in 10 people who get tests will receive a positive result.
This places the West Midlands in 5th place for the highest number of cases in the UK.
Birmingham City Council said they are urging the government against closing pubs again due to data suggesting this would cause little improvement.
Contact tracing data shows that 83% of new coronavirus cases are through in-household interactions, with 9% being from visiting other households.
Meeting others through eating out and hospitality shows an even smaller 2% of new cases.
Waheed Saleem, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, said, âThe data just doesnât support further restrictions on our hospitality sector.
This is about protecting jobs and livelihoods.”
“If further restrictions are imposed it is essential that further financial support is made available to those businesses affected.”
Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council
Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said, “The hospitality sector is not a major source of infection in the City. This would indicate that the measures we currently have in Birmingham around household mixing is the correct one.
“So, together with the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, we have written to the Chancellor outlining our concerns relating to proposals for the imposition of three new tiers of local lockdown for England.
Rather than a âone size fits all’ approach, decision making must be based on clarity on criteria for escalation, an evidence-informed approach and clear criteria that would trigger an âexitâ.
If further restrictions are imposed it is essential that further financial support is made available to those businesses affected.”
For COVID-19 updates from the Birmingham City Council, go to this bulletin.