 Coronavirus weekly figures: 20 to 26 August In the period 20-26 August, there were 1,130 positive cases reported in Shropshire – a slight decrease of 4% on the previous week. Despite this small decline in COVID-19 cases, Shropshire still has one of the highest rates in the West Midlands. During this week there were 34 confirmed COVID-19 patients in Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals (SaTH). And we are sad to report that there were eight deaths in hospital. Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council's director of public health, continues to urge people to remain vigilant. Rachel said: "We all know the things we can do to stop the rapid spread of the virus and, with the situation still as it is at the moment in the county, we all need to play our part. We know Shropshire residents have remained resilient and have stepped up to help stop the spread of the virus, but I strongly urge people to continue to wear face coverings in enclosed spaces, and social distance where possible to protect yourselves and others. "The best protection is still two doses of a vaccine. It significantly reduces your chances of becoming seriously ill if you get COVID-19. All adults aged 16 and over are now eligible."   Help keep Shropshire safe by taking just six simple steps We know that Covid-19 is still very much with us. There are six simple things you can do to help keep Shropshire safe: - Wash your hands regularly
- Wear a face mask in busy places or where ventilation is poor
- Ensure indoor areas are well ventilated
- Test twice a week using a Lateral Flow Test if you do not have symptoms or do a PCR test if you do develop symptoms
- Get both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine
- Check into venues using the NHS COVID-19 app
Just a few simple steps can help stop the spread of the virus and keep life moving.  Walk-in clinic at The Buttermarket in Shrewsbury on Saturday 11 September Everyone over the age of 16 is now eligible to get the COVID-19 jab to protect themselves against the virus. The vaccine offers around 80% protection against hospitalisation. Actual levels of protection could be even higher as younger people respond better to vaccines. Some 16 to 17 year olds will also have already had the COVID-19 infection, meaning their protection level could be even greater. Getting vaccinated is the single most important step that young people can take to protect themselves, their families and their communities against COVID-19 and to help us all get back to normal. People aged 16+ can walk-in to one of the many walk-in clinics across the county. No appointment is needed, you can just pop in and get vaccinated. You do not have to be registered with a GP, need proof of address, immigration status or have an NHS number to be vaccinated but proof of age is recommended. There are also clinics at: Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital, Shrewsbury Indoor Bowls Centre and Station Drive Surgery in Ludlow, supported by various pop-up clinic around the county. Full details available here. On Saturday 11 September there'll be a walk-in vaccination clinic at Shrewsbury Buttermarket on Howard Street, between 2pm and 6pm. You can get the first or second dose (as long as it has been 8 weeks between jabs) at a walk-in clinic without even having to make an appointment. If you have any questions, please visit the NHS website or pop in to one of the Covid-19 Vaccination Clinics where clinicians will be on hand to answer questions and address any concerns people may have.  A series of videos have been produced with young people to reassure those who are concerned about getting the Covid-19 vaccine and why it's so important to get vaccinated. You can watch the videos here.  Take a test, even if you have mild symptoms With cases still high in Shropshire, it is vitally important to get a PCR test if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, even if they are mild. Symptoms include: - Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrohea
There is currently testing sites in Shrewsbury, Ludlow, Oswestry, Market Drayton and Shifnal or you can order a home testing kit. Click here to book online.  Tips for going back to school A lot has changed since the end of the last school term, so we've made a handy animation to sum it all up. The main changes are the removal of bubbles and that 16 and 17-year-olds are now eligible for one dose of the vaccine. If you have any further questions, please contact your school directly. Watch the video here. | 
