THE number of coronavirus cases in the city fell by almost two per cent last week, it has been revealed.

In the seven days up to August 14, the number of confirmed new Covid-19 cases in Brighton and Hove fell by 1.7 per cent to 1,277.

That's a rate per hundred thousand of the population of 438 which is higher than the England rate of 328 and the South East rate of 318 per hundred thousand.

However, Alistair Hill, director of public health with Brighton and Hove City Council warned the drop in cases does not mean the virus has gone.

He said: “For the second week in a row we’ve seen a very small change in the number of confirmed new cases of Covid-19 in the city.

"While on the face of it, this might look like an encouraging hint that numbers are stabilising or are on their way down, it really is too soon to relax.

“The virus is still most present among young adults and teenagers.

"However the number of cases in older people has risen considerably and we now have one of the highest case rates in people aged 60 and above in the South East.

"This hasn’t led to the same level of seriously ill people needing hospital care that we saw earlier in the pandemic thanks to the effectiveness of the vaccination programme.

“What we do know, is that the virus loves a crowd and spreads most easily when people come together, especially indoors.

"When we socialise with friends and family it’s too easy to let our guard down.

"But with such high rates here in Brighton and Hove, coupled with rising cases in the rest of the country, we all must do everything we can to try to slow the spread.

“That means regularly testing with the free lateral flow test kits at home every week, especially if you’re planning to get together with friends or socialise in crowds.

"If you get a positive lateral flow test, or have even the mildest Covid symptoms, definitely do not go out. Stay home and book a PCR test to make sure you don’t have Covid so it doesn’t get a chance to spread to people you mix with.

“The best way to keep everyone you care about safe is to get vaccinated.

“From next Monday, our 16 and 17 year olds have the opportunity to get vaccinated at the new vaccination centre in the old Topshop in Churchill Square.

"It is the same team of NHS workers and volunteers who ran the vaccination centre at the Brighton Centre, many of them giving their time freely.

“I want to ask everyone to join me in thanking them, and all the other volunteers and community groups who have so generously given their time since the start of the pandemic.

"Their kindness has helped to keep the city safe and provided much needed community support to people who have needed it most. They deserve our gratitude and respect."