Everyone in the top four priority groups in Sussex has been offered their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

This comes as case rates in the city and across the county continue to fall.

Brighton and Hove City Council also confirmed that the number of inpatients needing treatment for Covid-19 at local hospitals was on the decline.

The authority's 's director of public health Alistair Hill said: "We hit a vaccination milestone locally this week with everyone in the top four priority groups in Sussex being offered their vaccination. More than 450,000 people in Sussex have now received their first jab.

"The NHS is contacting everyone when it is their turn. To receive your invitation, please make sure that you have registered with a local GP."

Brighton city centre under the third national lockdown restrictions

Brighton city centre under the third national lockdown restrictions

In the latest figures, there were 197 cases in the city in the week leading up to February 14, giving the city a weekly rate of 67.7 new cases per 100,000 population.

In comparison, in the week leading up to January 15, the rate was 494.4 and the previous week it had been 776.3.

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While on February 16. there were 63 inpatients with Covid-19 at the Royal Sussex County Hospital including 22 patients in need of critical care.

Brighton city centre under the third national lockdown restrictions

Brighton city centre under the third national lockdown restrictions

Mr Hill said: "This great progress is thanks to the efforts of all the people and businesses who are staying home during lockdown and following the Covid safety measures when away from home.

"We all want lockdown to end as soon as possible. To help make that happen, please continue to stay home except for essential reasons and keep within your local area when away from home – especially with the predicted warmer weather coming at the weekend."

Brighton city centre under the third national lockdown restrictions

Brighton city centre under the third national lockdown restrictions

Below are the latest weekly coronavirus rates in all local authority areas in Sussex. From left to right, it reads: name of local authority; rate of new cases in the seven days to February 14; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to February 14; rate of new cases in the seven days to February 7; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to February 7.

  • Crawley, 180.6, (203), 243.8, (274)
  • Arun, 133.7, (215), 204.7, (329)
  • Chichester, 98.2, (119), 175.0, (212)
  • Eastbourne, 97.4, (101), 145.5, (151)
  • Hastings, 93.9, (87), 159.7, (148)
  • Mid Sussex, 72.8, (110), 88.7, (134)
  • Worthing, 72.4, (80), 151.9, (168)
  • Horsham, 68.8, (99), 130.7, (188)
  • Brighton and Hove, 67.7, (197), 104.5, (304)
  • Adur, 62.2, (40), 112.0, (72)
  • Wealden, 60.7, (98), 110.9, (179)
  • Rother, 38.5, (37), 67.7, (65)