Rise in cases of delta variant of Covid-19 in West slows

THE rise in the number of cases of the delta variant of Covid-19 detected in the South West has slowed, according to figures published yesterday.

Public Health England yesterday published data on the number of positive tests for the new variant in the region.

The data showed that in the seven days to June 30 there were 1,657 new cases reported in the South West.

That compares to 2,183 new cases in the week to June 23.

It means the number of delta variant cases detected in total in the West stood at 5,550 up to June 30.

Bristol, with 1,025 total cases, is responsible for almost a fifth of the West’s cases, but after cases nearly doubled in the week to June 23 the rate of increase fell to 36 per cent in these latest figures.

The fastest rate of increase in the South West was in rural areas of Devon where there had previously been very few cases, with Mid Devon seeing cases rise 320 per cent from 10 by June 23 to 42 by June 30.

Commenting on the latest figures Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health

Security Agency, said: “Cases across the UK continue to rise and it is incredibly important that we do not forget to be careful. The best thing we can do to protect ourselves and the people we love is to get the vaccine if eligible, get tested twice a week and practise “hands, face, space, fresh air” at all times. Although cases are rising, we are not seeing a proportional rise in the number of people who are being admitted to hospital. The data suggest this is testament to the success of the vaccination programme so far.”

> The coronavirus vaccine uptake has been really good across the West