Brighton & Hove City Council is keeping the city’s Covid-19 alert level status at yellow this week.
There were 47 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the city up to 17 September (based on data published on 21 September), which is down from 59 cases in the previous week (up to 10 September).
Lower than national average
This is equivalent to a weekly rate of new cases of 16.2 per 100,000 residents which is lower than England’s rate of 34.9 per 100,000. An explanation of the alert levels with the most recent data is available on the Covid-19 key statistics page of the council's website.
Although there has been a fall in the number of confirmed cases in the city, we know many people have found it difficult to get a test during this period, which may affect the numbers of confirmed cases. A new local testing site opened in Brighton & Hove this week and appointments must be booked in advance via the NHS website.
For the second week running the most significant rise in new cases is among young people, particularly those aged 16-24.
Hands, face, space
Alistair Hill, Director of Public Health said: “Although symptoms are usually mild in young people, we're concerned about onward transmission through families out into the community. Covid-19 is still very dangerous, especially for older or vulnerable people.
“In a pandemic, we can’t all just take our own risk, we need to consider everyone around us. For each new confirmed case their family, classmates, teachers, housemates, friends and colleagues must self-isolate for 14 days. As well as the anxiety caused by worrying if they have the virus, people who self-isolate cannot go out to work, study, exercise or shop for supplies for two weeks.
“Living through this pandemic has been hard for everyone and I know we’re all getting tired of the restrictions. I want to ask everyone to keep on playing their part in slowing the spread of the virus by following the Government’s ‘hands, face, space’ guidelines and observing the ‘rule of six'.