A HEALTH boss has urged people living in the city to wear face masks as the number of positive coronavirus cases rises by almost 40 per cent.

Alistair Hill, director of public health at Brighton and Hove City Council, has recommended that people wear face coverings in "busy places", including public transport as fear over rising cases continues.

In the seven days up to October 22, there had been 1,232 conformed new cases of Covid-19 in the city - up 32 per cent on the previous week.

That is equivalent to a weekly rate of 422.3 per 100,000 residents, lower than the South East which was 534.8 per 100,000.

It is also lower than the rate for England, which was 481.5 per 100,000.

However, Alistair Hill urged residents to test regularly to "break the chain of transmission".

He said: “Positive cases have risen again and this week we’ve seen a rise in all age groups.

“We all need to do what we can to stop cases rising further and keep each other feeling safe.

“Alongside vaccinations and testing we should keep following the hands, face, space and fresh air guidance where we can. It really does make a difference.

“I’d recommend that everyone should still be wearing face coverings in busy places, including public transport.

"It’s not difficult for most of us, and by wearing a mask you’re not only protecting others but also helping many people feel safer to be out.

“Regular testing using lateral flow tests helps to identify cases early and break the chain of transmission.

“For those returning to secondary school or college, or even heading into to work after a half-term break, please take a lateral flow test before you go back.”

It comes as London mayor Sadiq Khan urged the government to make face coverings mandatory on public transport as the UK continues to average more than 40,000 confirmed coronavirus cases a day for over a week.

The government has so far been resistant to bringing in so-called Plan B measures, which would see the reintroduction of mandatory facemasks indoors along with guidance to work from home and the use of Covid passports.