Three Solihull areas where Covid cases are rising and the five areas falling the fastest

Coronavirus case numbers have finally fallen to levels last seen before the Omicron wave hit.

Across the country there were 320,341 positive cases in the week ending February 17, a 26% fall from the week before.

It is the lowest number since November 30 last year.

With cases falling, Stealth Omicron’ now accounts for more than half of cases in some parts of England.

The Omicron sub-variant, officially called BA.2, has been in the UK for some time - the first example was found on December 6, 2021.

But with case numbers growing in all regions of the UK, it is now on track to become the dominant strain.

According to samples analysed by the Wellcome Sanger Institute, in Solihull, Stealth Omicron currently accounts for 34.7% of all Covid cases.

At a regional level, Northern Ireland had the highest coronavirus case rate in the week to February 17, at 975.4 cases per 100,000 residents.

This was followed by Scotland, with 789 cases per 100,000 residents.

The lowest case rate was in Wales, with 241.5 cases per 100,000 residents.

The figures include both positive PCR and lateral flow tests.

They also include people who have been reinfected with Covid-19 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but do not yet count reinfections in Scotland.

Not all neighbourhoods in Solihull are seeing a drop in infection rates, but the majority are.

Three neighburhoods in the town have seen an increase in cases over the last week - you can see which ones below.

At neighbourhood level, Covid-19 case rates have been published for the week to February 17.

Here are the neighbourhoods in Solihull which have seen the biggest rise and biggest fall in case rates in the past week.

Biggest rise

1. Dickens Heath, Cheswick Green & Hockley Heath

Dickens Heath, Cheswick Green & Hockley Heath has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 17.1% from 619.1 cases per 100,000 people to 725.2.

2. Castle Bromwich East

Castle Bromwich East has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 12.0% from 421.4 cases per 100,000 people to 471.9.

3. Blossomfield

Blossomfield has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 3.1% from 722.8 cases per 100,000 people to 745.0.

Biggest fall

1. Smith's Wood North

Smith's Wood North has seen case rates of positive Covid cases fall by 72.0%, from 425.5 cases per 100,000 people to 119.1.

2. Shirley West

Shirley West has seen case rates of positive Covide cases fall by 65.9% from 662 cases per 100,000 people to 225.7.

3. Marston Green & Airport

Marston Green & Airport has seen case rates of positive Covid cases fall by 55.6% from 573.7 cases per 100,000 people to 255.0.

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

Meriden, Hampton-in-Arden & Temple Balsall has seen case rates of positive Covid cases fall by 54.7% from 722.5 cases per 100,000 people to 327.2.

5. Castle Bromwich West

Castle Bromwich West has seen case rates of positive Covid cases fall by 52.9% from 317.9 cases per 100,000 people to 149.6.

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