COVID-19 cases in  Dixons Green, Dudley, jumped to 16 last week prompting council leaders to plead with residents to observe new government guidance. 

The numbers of new patients across the borough jumped from 36 to 66 despite the borough having the lowest rate of infections in the Black Country.

Dixon Green, Dudley Priory & Wrens Nest and Kates Hill accounted for half of all cases with a total of 31 infections.         

The figures for September 7 to 13 were collated by Public Health England which divided the borough into Middle Layer Super Output Areas (MSOAs) – which have an average population of 7,200.

The sharp rise in cases led to Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council issuing a stark warning.

He said: “Covid-19 infection rates are rising rapidly across Dudley and the West Midlands, and the spread of the virus is mainly being driven by social gatherings in the home.

“New guidance limits gatherings to no more than six people in most situations, but we really need local residents to go further than this if we are to avoid the introduction of measures such as those that have been imposed upon residents in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull.”

The figures for each area are as follows.

Coseley Wallbrook                                       0-2

Sedgeley East                                                 0-2

Sedgeley West                                               0-2

West Coseley                                                 0-2

Woodsetton                                                   0-2

Dudley Priory & Wrens Nest                      7     

Upper Gornal & Ruiton                            0-2

Lower Gornal & The Straits                   0-2

Dibdale                                                             0-2

Kates Hill                                                            10

New Dock & Eve Hill                                   0-2

Kingswinford North                                     0-2

Russell’s Hall                                                   0-2

Wall Heath                                                       0-2

Dixons Green                                                    16

Pensett & Kingswinford East                 0-2

Brockmoor & Woodside                               4

Netherton                                                             4

Kingswinford South                                     0-2

Dudley Wood & Saltwells                              5

Wordsley & Buckpool                                 0-2

Brierley Hill                                                        0-2

Hawbush                                                                 3                                          

Ashwood                                                              0-2

Quarry Bank                                                       0-2

Shell Corner & Hurst Green                        0-2

Amblecote East                                                0-2

Withymoor Village                                           0-2

Wollaston                                                             0-2

The online tool can be accessed here: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=47574f7a6e454dc6a42c5f6912ed7076