THE Director for Public Health in Worcestershire is urging residents to act now to avoid tougher lockdown rules in the county as Wyre Forest's infection rate remains "particularly high".

Worcestershire is currently in tier one of the government's new coronavirus alert system, meaning it has the least restrictive measures in place.

But Dr Kathryn Cobain says infection rates continue to rise overall across the county, and remain particularly high in Bromsgrove, which now has an infection rate of 121 per 100,000, and in Wyre Forest, with a rate of 94.

Concerns were first raised about the rising rate of infection in Wyre Forest at the end of September when it reached 49.

Dr Cobain says residents have an opportunity now to prevent tougher rules being introduced - by reducing how many people they are mixing with, considering the risk level in the places they visit and following all the guidelines.

“Worcestershire does not want to face tougher restrictions," said Dr Cobain. "You can help prevent that, by staying local and really reducing who you mix with.

"Cut down the number of contacts you have with people, keep your distance from others and remember to wash your hands and wear face coverings.

"If you reduce where you go, consider who you are travelling with, who you mix with, stick to the rule of 6 and follow these rules, we will see the spread of Covid-19 reducing.

"If we lower the numbers of cases, we reduce the risk of us being put into tier two measures.

"Further restrictions will impact our lives, our businesses and our economy, if we want to stay at tier one, then we have to stick to the rules now more than ever."

Lickhill and Burlish had the highest number of positive Covid-19 cases in Wyre Forest last week with 14, according to the latest data published by Public Health England.

Here are the number of positive cases recorded in Wyre Forest between October 3 and October 9 - the latest data available:

Kidderminster Shuttle: A Public Health England map shows where coronavirus cases were confirmed in Wyre Forest last weekA Public Health England map shows where coronavirus cases were confirmed in Wyre Forest last week

The figures are split into several "middle super output areas" – zones that are slightly larger than postcode areas with an average population of around 7,200 people.

Stourport Lickhill and Burlish - 14

Wolverley, Cookley and Blakedown - 9

Spennells and Hoobrook - 8

Kidderminster Town - 7

Habberley - 7

Foley Park - 7

Comberton - 6

Greenhill - 6

Stourport Mitton and Wilden - 6

Bewdley West, Ribbesford and Far Forest - 4

Bewdley East and Upper Arley - 3

Stourport Areley Kings - 3