Brighton coronavirus rate falls for second week in a row

The city's director of public health Alistair Hill said he was aware that "we all want the be free of the restrictions placed on us by the Covid pandemic" but the rules must remain in place.

However, he acknowledged that "lockdown is working" as the number of coronavirus cases recorded in the city plummeted.

Brighton seafront on a morning during Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions

In the week leading up to January 22, the most recent complete figures, 880 people were confirmed as testing positive for the virus in Brighton and Hove.

This gave the city a weekly rate of 303 new cases per 100,000 residents, lower than the figures for both England (387) and the South East (368).

• READ MORE: Spike in Brighton Covid deaths despite drop in cases

This was down about 40 per cent from the rate in Brighton and Hove for the week leading up to January 15, when there were 494.4 new cases per 100,00 people in the city.

A quiet Brighton city centre during the coronavirus pandemic

And it was far lower than the rate in the city in the week leading up to January 8, which was 776.3 new cases per 100,000 residents.

Director of public health Alistair Hill said: "This week’s data confirms that lockdown is working. Numbers of confirmed cases of Covid are steadily decreasing across all age groups, including the over 60s who remain our greatest concern.

"I want to thank everyone for playing your part in driving down infection rates in our city.

• READ MORE: What to expect when receiving a Covid vaccination at the Brighton Centre

"We all want the be free of the restrictions placed on us by the Covid pandemic. I know how difficult lockdown is for everyone, but it is too early to relax.

"We must all continue to follow the rules by staying at home as much as possible and diligently following the hands, face, space guidelines – especially in busy places where you cannot stay two meters apart from other people.”

Mr Hill also offered advice to people looking to receive the Covid-19 vaccine in Brighton and Hove following the opening of a mass vaccination site at the Brighton Centre.

A quiet Brighton city centre during the coronavirus pandemic

He said: “I know many people are keen to get vaccinated as soon as possible and want to know when that will happen. Please do not contact your GP, the NHS or the Brighton Centre.

“The NHS is steadily vaccinating people to the government’s schedule, starting with our oldest and most vulnerable residents and health and social care staff. When it is your turn you will receive an invitation to book your vaccination.”