Four new official Covid hotspots in Stoke-on-Trent amid 'battle isn't over yet' warning

Residents in four areas of Stoke-on-Trent are being asked to get tested for Covid-19 after being officially declared hotspots.

Normacot and Lightwood, along with Boothen and Oakhill have been added to the watchlist this week following a spike in cases.

The whole of Hanley also remains an area of coronavirus concern.

The news comes as Stoke-on-Trent's infection rate stood at 133 per 100,000 residents in the week to February 26 - significantly above the England average.

While this is a decrease of 9.1 per cent on the previous week, cases are not falling as quickly as elsewhere in the country.

Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones, Stoke-on-Trent's director of adult social care, health integration and wellbeing, is continuing to urge residents across the city to get tested weekly if they have to be out and about.

He said: "Although cases are spread across the city, latest figures show that these wards are the areas with the highest rates.

"Asymptomatic testing will play a key role in the exit from lockdown. Asymptomatic testing can reduce transmission of the virus through early detection where people are regularly testing twice a week.

"I urge all residents to continue to follow the rules, get tested weekly and remember hands, face, space.”

The testing plea comes as the roadmap out of lockdown is due to start on Monday when schools reopen.

Council leader Abi Brown added: “If we are serious about beating this disease, then now is not the time to be taking the foot off the pedal, we do not want cases to increase.

"If we want to make sure lockdown can be eased and then people must get tested once a week at least, the battle isn’t over yet."

Areas of Stoke-on-Trent with the highest infection rate in the seven days to February 27

1. Florence - 282.5 per 100,000 with 17 cases over seven days (up 88.9 per cent)
2. Hanley and Etruria - 224.3 per 100,000 with 19 cases over seven days (up 5.6 per cent)
3. Northwood - 193.2 per 100,000 with 14 cases over seven days (up 180 per cent)
4. Fenpark - 185.4 per 100,000 with 9 cases over seven days (down 52.6 per cent)
5. Smallthorne and Sneyd Green - 182 per 100,000 with 15 cases over seven days (up 36.4 per cent)
6. Shelton and Joiners Square - 177.9 per 100,000 with 18 cases over seven days (up 5.9 per cent)
7. Bradeley and Chell Heath - 176.3 per 100,000 with 13 cases over seven days (up 8.3 per cent)
8. Boothen and Penkhull - 169.2 per 100,000 with 16 cases over seven days (down 5.9 per cent)

People without coronavirus symptoms can book a test at a community venue by visiting www.stoke.gov.uk/bookacovid19test

Anyone with coronavirus symptoms can book a test at a regional testing centre by visiting via www.nhs.uk/coronavirus, or calling 119.