THREAD headlines from the weekly @WestMids_CA #Coronavirus briefing. Number of #carehomes in the region with active outbreaks has fallen again to 261, from 282 last week and 291 the week before. @Cadman1Deborah said they can see "light at the end of the tunnel".

There are now 204 #COVID19 infected patients in the four @uhbtrust hospitals. There were 278 last week, and around 1000 at the peak of the outbreak. There are 21 ventilated Covid patients, down from 42 last week.

This week there were 680 attendances at the @uhbtrust hospitals' A&Es plus 100 virtual consultations, compared to 12-1300 at the same time last year. This maybe because people who needn't have attended anyway are less likely to come now

The number of people using @TransportforWM trains, trams and buses barely changed this week. There are 85% fewer passengers than pre #lockdown. @andy4wm said a full service will be up and running in June, but the government would need to make up the cash shortfall like in London

Asked whether there out to be a regional approach to easing #lockdown because the #Midlands R rate is 0.68, @andy4wm said a national approach was better and easier to understand, but they are prepared to introduce tougher measures in towns where there is a spike

@DaveThompsonCC said he didn't expect very large numbers to attend the planned protests against the #lockdown this weekend

Dr Sue Ibbotson of @PHE_uk said the #WestMidlands had the highest rate of inactive adults in the country at 25% - and so welcomed moves to allow people to spend more time to exercise. More exercise makes them less vulnerable to conditions that put them at greater risk from #Covid

On the return of #football next month @DaveThompsonCC said he needs to see more detail before commenting on potential for large gatherings outside grounds, though he expected the vast majority of people to observe the #lockdown rules.

@andy4wm said he hoped @Wolves @AVFCOfficial @WBA @coventrycity etc. would be able to complete their seasons at their home grounds, even if behind closed doors. He believes that even when fans can return to grounds it'll be in far fewer numbers