Covid cases fall again in Brighton and Hove but the decline is starting to slow down

Brighton and Hove City Council said in the seven days up to March 12, there were 85 confirmed new Covid-19 cases in the city which is equivalent to a weekly rate of 29 per 100,000 residents. This is lower than the rate for England, which was 59 per 100,000 and the South East at 37 per 100,000.

The number of cases is 9.6 per cent less than the previous week, although the figure for the week before (the seven days up to March 5) had been 30 per cent less than the previous week.

The council data said that on March 17, there were 12 inpatients with Covid-19 at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Alistair Hill, director of public health said: “The slowing down in the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 is similar to the trend seen in the rest of England and partly explained by more cases being found due to the new symptom-free testing in schools, workplaces and community testing. It’s a reminder that we need to continue to follow the stay at home rule until March 29, when lockdown measures will be relaxed again.

“I want to thank everyone who has helped to drive down cases in the city so far and ask that we all remain patient and continue to follow the guidance until then.

“It’s vital we all do everything possible to keep the number of cases down. The government’s plan to lift lockdown in phases depends upon infection rates remaining low to keep the pressure off the NHS while the vaccination programme rolls out.

“The new symptom-free community testing programme will help stop the virus spreading when people start to mix as the restrictions relax later in the month.

“I’m asking everyone who needs to work or volunteer away from home, or has children at school or nursery, to make regular symptom-free testing part of your weekly routine.

"If a symptom free test is not available where you work, you can book them at pharmacies around the city, Hove Town Hall and Moulescoomb Leisure Centre on the council website. But If you have any symptoms of Covid-19 the symptom-free is not the right test to take, you should book a regular Covid test – known as a PCR test – if you have symptoms.

“Symptom-free testing combined with vaccinations and the hands-face-space guidelines are how we will keep to the government’s schedule to lift lockdown and get back to doing the things we miss.”

More information about the Sussex symptom-free testing programme is available on the council website. To book a symptom-free test, click here.

Families and households of school or college age children, including childcare and support bubbles can additionally collect home test kits from local sites or order them online. Find out more here.