By Matt Jarram, Local Democracy Reporter
The Public Health Director for Nottingham is “strongly recommending’ residents continue to take measures such as wearing face masks as restrictions are removed today (Thursday, January 26).
Lucy Hubber spoke to health, police, and council colleagues at a Health and Wellbeing Board at Loxley House on Wednesday, January 26.
Covid cases are starting to flatten across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, but are still at more than 1,000 per day.
There is still a high number of people with coronavirus in Nottingham hospitals, with 264 admissions in the week leading up to January 16.
There were also 286 admissions in the week prior to that, with 15 people on ventilators and in the most critical condition and 22 deaths in the week leading up to January 19.
Around 84 per cent of over-18s have now had two jabs and 64 per cent of over-18s have had a booster.
From Thursday, January 27, under the Government’s Plan A, people will no longer be advised to work from home and face coverings will no longer be mandatory in indoor venues.
Organisations will also be able to choose whether to require NHS Covid-passes.
Mrs Hubber, who said she will continue to wear a face mask in crowded and indoor settings, said Covid had flattened across all age groups but was increasing among primary school pupils.
She said this was impacting on primary school staff and families which had to take time off work as their children isolate.
She said: “We are still in a position of increasing rates and I would strongly recommend our communities think about the measures they should take to protect themselves and those around them.”
Cllr Adele Williams (Lab), chair of the board, agreed that the city was still in “a serious position” and that lives were still being lost to the virus.
