PEOPLE are being urged to continue testing following a rise in coronavirus cases in the city.

In the seven days up to November 21, the number of new confirmed Covid-19 in Brighton and Hove rose by 19 per cent to 1,073.

This the equivalent to a weekly rate of 367.8 per cent 100,000 residents which is lower than the rate for the South East of 418.4 per 100,000.

Alistair Hill, director of public health at Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “Once again, we’ve seen an increasing number of our of residents testing positive - showing that Covid is very much still with us.

“Even if you’re fully vaccinated, regular testing is important, so you know you’re not spreading Covid without realising.

“Many people who’ve had Covid didn’t show any symptoms and only realised when they tested positive on a lateral flow test before confirming it with a PCR test.

“Please think of others and keep testing, especially on days when you’re mixing with lots of people or seeing more vulnerable people who might get seriously ill from Covid.

“And if you test positive, stay at home and get a PCR test.”

In a statement the council have laid out what it suggests members of the public can do to reduce the spread of the virus:

• Get your Covid vaccines, your booster and your flu jab when you’re offered it

• First and second doses (after eight weeks) are available for everyone aged 16 or over, book online or find a walk-in session across the city

• Covid boosters are available for over 50s, health and social care workers and those with underlying health conditions where it's been six months since your 2nd jab

• Vaccinations for most 12-15 year olds are being organised through schools. Find out more about vaccines for 12-15 year olds

• Flu vaccines are also free for many people

• Wear a face covering in crowded or enclosed places

• Meet outside where possible, or let fresh air in

• Keep taking twice-weekly lateral flow tests, report your results and isolate if required, you can order free test packs online to be delivered to you at home, pick packs up from Jubilee Library or Hove Town Hall, collect packs from a pharmacy – you need to register for a collect code before picking up tests from a pharmacy – or get a supervised test at a pharmacy

• Get a PCR test if you have any symptoms, even mild, or if you test positive from a lateral flow test. Then stay at home and isolate for ten days if you test positive

• Close contacts of someone who’s tested positive should get a PCR test, if you are a close contact and not fully vaccinated you should stay at home and self-isolate for ten days even if your PCR is negative, if you are a contact and fully vaccinated (where you received your second dose more than two weeks ago) or if you are under 18 years and six months, you no longer need to self-isolate while waiting for your PCR result

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