A HEALTH CHIEF has warned people “high levels of caution are needed” ahead of Covid restrictions being dropped next week.

Alistair Hill, director of public health at Brighton and Hove City Council said cases in Brighton and Hove “continue to move in the right direction, but the level of Covid infection in the community remains high”.

In the seven day up to January 14, based on data published on Wednesday, there were 2,594 confirmed coronavirus cases in the city.

This is down 38 per cent on the previous seven days and the equivalent to a weekly rate of 889.2 per 100,000 residents.

However, this is higher than the South East average which was 875.2 per 100,000, but lower than the rate for England, which was 986.2 per 100,000.

Mr Hill said: “It’s important to remember that the government’s announcement of the lifting the Plan B measures is not a complete end to guidance. Guidance continues to be in place to limit transmission, protect our health and manage the pressure on our NHS and social care services.

“This means we need to keep doing what we can to keep each other safe. Please keep testing (and self-isolate following a positive result), wearing face coverings in crowded and enclosed places, opening windows, washing your hands and getting your vaccinations.

“We also need to remember that the Plan B requirements around wearing a face covering and using a Covid Pass remain in place for another week and we must continue to follow them.”

Plan B measures are being dropped across England from next week.

Guidance asking people to work from home has been lifted, and from Thursday next week mandatory Covid passes will end.

Also from next Thursday, people will no longer need to wear face masks.

Face coverings have been scrapped in classrooms, with school communal areas to follow.

The legal requirement for people with coronavirus to self-isolate will also be allowed to end when the regulations expire on March 24.

Have you got a story for us? Email news@theargus.co.uk or contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox.

You can also call us on 01273 021 400.