CORONAVIRUS rates in Sandwell remain below the national average but there are still concerns over the rapidly spreading Omicron variant.

Sandwell showed a weekly rate of 379 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people, significantly lower than regional and national figures, which are 452 and 520 per 100,000 people respectively.

The booster campaign in Sandwell has broken its one day record, at 2,000 boosters given on December 13. The following day showed 2,700 boosters in one day, including a significant number of over 50s and people with vulnerabilities taking up the vaccines.

Speaking at the health and wellbeing board at Sandwell Council, Dr Lisa McNally said: “Sandwell has had significantly lower in case rates than regional and national cases since April, but of course we are pessimistic, because it pay to be in public health.

“The Omicron variant will be the most dominant form of coronavirus in the UK, that much is clear. What we don’t know yet, is the case severity of Omicron. You will have heard an interview with medics in South Africa claiming that it’s producing less serious illness. We absolutely can’t conclude that from the current data.

“South Africa has a relatively young population compared to the UK. So actually, it’s not really a comparable population and even there, they simply don’t have the numbers, the groups, to compare case fatalities or case hospitalisations.

“This is a really serious situation. We’re going to a deadly race between Omicron’s growth and immunity – mainly in the form of vaccination. The race is really on now.”

Michelle Carolan, managing director of Sandwell for the Black Country and West Birmingham CCG, made it clear even one dose of the coronavirus vaccine will save lives, and urged those not vaccinated to come forward.

She said: “If you think ‘oh, it’s not worth it now, I’ve made my decision’, it’s never too late.

“Please come forward. We can make sure that you get your first dose and accelerated course. We are not here to judge you and to tell you off, because you haven’t had your first dose.

“Come and speak to your local vaccination centre, your local pharmacist. Please don’t think that you’re going to be told it’s too late, because it never is. So please come forward and we’ll support you.”

Dr Ian Sykes, clinical vice chairman of Black Country and West Birmingham CCG, said: “We haven’t managed to ramp up vaccination numbers, but vaccination clinics will be restarting over. It’s a seven day service, and I myself will be doing several vaccination clinics over the Christmas period.

“So there’s going to be lots of lots of appointments available, for all Sandwell residents.”

It comes after new UK coronavirus cases hit a record daily high of 78,610. NHS leaders warned yesterday that the health service was already being hit by increasing numbers of staff falling ill with coronavirus.

Meanwhile,  according to Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor at the UK Health and Security Agency the R value for Omicron is estimated to be between 3 and 5 in the UK, doubling in size every two days.

The current R value of the Delta epidemic in the UK is estimated to be between 1.1 and 1.2.