COVID-19 is still putting Wirral's NHS under "considerable pressure", even though infection rates are falling rapidly.

Cases in Wirral are down by more than 50% on last week, but Julie Webster, the borough's public health director, said pressures on health and social care will continue for "some time to come".

Ms Webster said: "Although cases are down in Wirral, they are still significantly higher than they were before Omicron.

"Very high levels of the virus continue to circulate in the community, so it is important to remember that we are not out of the woods yet.

"Locally, the NHS and social care continue to be under considerable pressure – which we expect will be the case for some time to come.

"So that we can keep moving forward, I urge everyone in Wirral to continue to follow the guidance and most importantly get all of their vaccinations."

Breaking the numbers down to council ward level, Upton had 260 cases in the week up to January 12, more than anywhere else in Wirral, while Bidston and St James (242) and Liscard (232) are the next most infected areas.

But even in these wards, cases are significantly down on last week's levels, when Upton had 397 cases, Bidston and St James had 419 and Liscard had 423.

Yet case numbers in Wirral remain high.

While the current infection rate of 1,293 per 100,000 may be 53% down on last week, it is still three or four times higher than the numbers we had been seeing as recently as November and early December before Omicron became the dominant variant.

The latest numbers we have show that 98 people were in Wirral's hospitals with COVID-19 on January 11, up from 73 on January 4 and just 28 on December 28.

Commenting on what can be done to help further protect Wirral from the virus, Ms Webster also emphasised the importance of getting vaccinated.

She added: "It's easier than ever to get your first, second and booster jabs, with pop-up vaccination clinics appearing across the borough as part of our Week of Walk-Ins (WOW) – from libraries to football stadiums to music venues.

"If you're working during the day, there are clinics running through the evening and weekend.

"In fact, this evening Future Yard in Birkenhead is hosting an NHS pop-up vaccination clinic between 5pm and 9pm.

"After getting your jab, you can head to their bar area to collect a free hot drink and a cake, to enjoy in the venue, while listening to some music."

At a national level the government has announced that on January 27, so-called Plan B rules will be relaxed, with the end of mandatory vaccine passports and face masks, as well as guidance to work from home.

But there will still be a legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19.

COVID-19 cases in every Wirral ward (week up to January 12):

Upton 260

Bidston and St James 242

Liscard 232

Birkenhead and Tranmere 226

Rock Ferry 224

Seacombe 223

Wallasey 216

Bromborough 210

Bebington 209

Claughton 202

Leasowe and Moreton East 198

New Brighton 174

Prenton 174

Moreton West and Saughall Massie 170

Eastham 169

Oxton 167

Pensby 164

Greasby, Frankby and Irby 162

Clatterbridge 152

Heswall 139

Hoylake and Meols 127

West Kirby and Thurstaston 116