RESIDENTS are being urged to think before they meet up as Wyre Forest moves into tier two restrictions

Worcestershire’s Director for Public Health, Dr. Kathryn Cobain, says we should all be aware that if we mix and socialise, we risk seeing the virus spreading.

At the moment, Worcestershire’s Covid-19 infection rate is falling and this shows the lockdown restrictions have worked. By reducing how many people we mix with, avoiding having people in our homes and following the rules, the spread of the virus has reduced.

Worcestershire is in tier two, with an infection rate of 114 per 100,000. The focus remains on driving down the cases of Coronavirus in the county. tier one areas have infection rates of around 50 per 100,000.

The risk now, is that as we move into tier two, we will come into contact with more people and the county will see cases rising again.

Dr Cobain said: “The people of Worcestershire have worked so hard to get our cases of Covid-19 down. I want to thank everyone for their efforts which are now bearing fruit.

"Tier two brings a new set of restrictions and the opening up of some of our social spaces. We welcome the easing of some of the rules, but we should all be in no doubt, that this is not risk free. If we mix and socialise we increase the chances of the virus spreading.

"Everyone wants to be able to enjoy the festive season, and we recognise it will be so important for mental health and wellbeing that families are able to reconnect and be together. We all have a responsibility to do this as safely as possible.

"We need to be careful to not let Christmas socialising create a surge in cases of Covid-19 in the new year. Please think carefully about where you are going, who you are with and follow the rules. Let’s not waste all our sacrifices and hard work".