Residents asked to avoid meeting other households to avoid a local lockdown

Group leaders on Rugby Borough Council are joining with the Director of Public Health to urge Rugbeians to follow stricter guidelines to help slow the spread of Covid-19.

The number of cases in Rugby has surged again over the last week, at one point reaching a rate of nearly 90/100,000 over 7 days.

The council is expecting the Government to introduce restrictions on communities that have an infection rate of more than 100/100,000 from next week, and is asking residents to take urgent steps now to avoid reaching the rate where harsher lockdown measures are imposed.

Cllr Seb Lowe, Leader of Rugby Borough Council and Leader of the Conservative Group, Maggie O'Rourke, Leader of the Labour Group, and Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, have issued a joint statement.

They said: "The rate of infection in Rugby has been consistently higher than neighbouring areas since the start of September, but after seeing the infection rate reduce this trend has reversed once again.

"This is a worrying increase.

"The measures the council put in place to make town centre businesses safe places to visit have worked, but we are now starting to see a big increase in cases that have been passed on between households.

"We urge residents to take action now and not mix indoors with anyone they do not live with, except for close friends or family who are part of their support bubble.

"Anyone who has symptoms of Covid-19 such as a high temperature, new continuous cough or a loss of taste or smell, should isolate immediately with their household and not mix with anyone else or go anywhere except to take a test.

"If we limit our social contacts now, and continue to wash our hands regularly, wear a face covering in enclosed spaces and keep more than 2m from anyone we don't live with, we will be able to continue to doing the things we enjoy without new lockdown restrictions.

"It is up to all of us to act now and do what is right for Rugby."

Shade Agboola, Director of Public Health for Warwickshire, said:

"All of the data shows that the biggest cause of transmission of Covid-19 in Rugby is social visits to friends and family. Sadly, without knowing it residents are putting their loved ones at risk.

"Our best defence from Covid-19 is to make sure that we don't take it home with us. This means washing our hands, wearing a face covering, keeping the social distancing rules and, for now, not visiting or socialising with other households.

"We are reaching a critical point where, if infection rates don't start to fall, we will have to have measures imposed. We have to keep going, stick to the rules, and follow these additional guidelines."

The latest case data for Rugby shows that there have been recent cases in all wards, with the highest numbers in Coton and Boughton, Paddox, Wolston and Dunsmore. All age groups have been affected, with the largest rise in the last few weeks in the 50-59 age group. Cases are mostly white British, with a small number of cases from other ethnic groups.

The latest updates and case information is published daily on the council's social media channels such as at www.facebook.com/RugbyBoroughCouncil.