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The Birmingham, Black Country, Staffordshire and Worcestershire neighborhoods have alarmingly high Covid infection rates, just hours before a level review begins.
Fears are growing that a large part of the region could be plunged into Level 4 restrictions, as coronavirus cases continue to rise.
An interactive map, which is published by the government, shows that Honeybourne in Worcestershire has the highest infection rate with a staggering 780 cases per 100,000 people.
Two ZIP codes in Wolverhampton and one in Staffordshire also top the list of worryingly high cases.
Several Birmingham neighborhoods also appear in the table, which calculates rates through December 24.
Today’s level review at 3pm (Dec 30) comes after news that the Covid-19 vaccine from the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca has been approved for use in the UK, paving the way for the mass launch.
The jab, which has been described as a “game changer,” received a green light from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The UK has ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine, enough to vaccinate 50 million people, and Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the launch on January 4.
He called it “fantastic news”, adding that vaccines could “really get accelerated” in the coming weeks.
Video not available
The Health Secretary appeared alongside Charlotte Hawkins and Sean Fletcher on Good Morning Britain before reviewing levels to outline the need for more action.
When asked, Mr. Hancock said, “I’m afraid I’m going to have to … we’re going to have to expand the Level 4 areas …”
He added: “Further action is absolutely necessary.”
Here are the 10 areas with the highest rates of Covid-19 infection in Birmingham, Black Country, Worcestershire, and Staffordshire:
- Honeybourne – 780
- Waterloo road – 752
- Wood end – 724
- Alrewas, Fradley and King’s Bromley – 696
- Bushbury – 622
- Oxley Park – 622
- Sparkbrook south – 602
- Low hill – 600
- Walsall Wood – 596
- Moseley – 592
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