Covid-19: the five Solihull neighbourhoods with the highest rise in cases

Coronavirus infection rates are still rising across the UK, official figures show.

There were 294,753 positive test results in the week to November 25, up 2% from the week before.

At a regional level, Northern Ireland has the highest infection rates in the UK, with 622 cases per 100,000 people, followed by South East England, with 578 cases per 100,000.

Scotland has the lowest rate, with 340 cases per 100,000.

At neighbourhood level, Covid-19 case rates have been published for the week to November 25.

Here are the neighbourhoods in Solihull with the fastest rising case rates.

1. Shirley East

Shirley East has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 123.8% from 212 cases per 100,000 people, to 474.4.

2. Meriden, Hampton-in-Arden & Temple Balsall

Meriden, Hampton-in-Arden & Temple Balsall has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 114.3% from 286.3 cases per 100,000 people, to 613.4.

3. Olton & Kineton Green

Olton & Kineton Green has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 75.0% from 228.6 cases per 100,000 people, to 400.0.

4. Elmdon Park

Elmdon Park has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 68.9% from 385.1 cases per 100,000 people, to 650.6.

5. Chelmsley Wood East

Chelmsley Wood East has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 58.3% from 248.6 cases per 100,000 people, to 393.6.

Concerns over new Omicron variant

There are growing fears over a new “heavily mutated” Covid-19 variant found in South Africa, with the country being added to the UK’s ‘red list’.

The B.1.1.529 variant, officially named the Omicron variant, was first found in the country and there are warnings that the new strain may be more transmissible than the Delta strain and current vaccines may be less effective against it.

Alongside South Africa, nine other African countries have been added to the red travel list.

The countries are Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said there are concerns the new coronavirus variant could “defeat the vaccine.”

How many cases of the Omicron variant are in the UK?

Currently, there are 22 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in the UK.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that nine cases of the Omicron variant were found in Scotland, and had all been linked to the same private event on 20 November.

Public Health Scotland is still examining any potential link between the Omicron variant in Scotland and COP26, but Sturgeon said no connection has so far been found.

The remaining 13 cases have been found in England.

UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid has warned that more cases were likely to be found over the coming days.

The Prime Minister said vaccines and boosters are our ‘best line of defence’.

We’ve taken a look at where people can get a booster jab at a walk-in clinic in Solihull, whcih you can see here.

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