Covid cases rise to 4,033 in West

MORE than 4,000 cases of the Delta variant of Covid-19 were recorded in the South West last week, according to figures published yesterday.

Public Health England said that in the week to July 14 the total number of Delta cases diagnosed in the region had risen to 13,416.

The 4,033 new cases was only 200 more than that recorded the week before, when the number of new cases more than doubled to 3,833 from 1,657.

Nearly 800 of the new cases were recorded in the West’s biggest city Bristol, where 2,517 Delta cases have now been reported.

Cornwall has had the second most Delta cases in the South West, with 1,384.

Wiltshire (945), South Gloucestershire (930) and Gloucester (648) are the areas of the West with the next highest levels.

Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Case rates are still high and rising, but it is encouraging that the increase in cases still does not appear to be associated with a similar increase in hospitalisations and deaths. This is testament to the continued success of the vaccination programme in reducing the incidence of severe disease.

“The best way to keep yourself and those around you safe is to get both doses of the vaccine as soon as you are eligible. However, while vaccines offer excellent protection, they do not completely eliminate risk.

“As we approach the end of restrictions, it is as important as ever that we continue to exercise caution.”

THE number of new cases of Covid-19 reported each day in the UK has climbed above 50,000 for the first time in six months. A total of 51,870 cases were reported by the Government on July 16. This is the highest number since January 15, when 55,761 cases were reported.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this month warned that the number of new cases could reach 50,000 a day by July 19 - the date on which coronavirus restrictions are to be eased in England.

The latest total is still some way below the peak of the second wave of the virus, which saw a high of 68,053 cases reported on January 8.

But the numbers are on a clear upwards trend, with average daily cases up 35% week-on-week. Coronavirus infections are continuing to rise across the country, with one in 95 people in England infected, according to new figures.

Data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that more than half a million people in private households in England are likely to have had Covid19 in the week to July 10. The estimate for the number testing positive – 577,700 – is the equivalent of around one in 95 people, up from one in 160 people in the previous week, and the highest number since the week to February 6.

It is more than five times the figure a month ago. In the week to June 12, the estimate was 105,000 people. Data shows that at the same point last year, in the week to July 12, one in 2,300 people were estimated to have Covid-19.

In the latest data all areas of England have seen a rise, with those in the North East most likely of any region to test positive for coronavirus, at around one in 40 people. North-west England has the second highest estimate, one in 55, while south-east England has the lowest at around one in 220.

Rates of infection have increased in all age groups but around one in 35 people from school year 12 (16 and 17-year-olds) to age 24 are estimated to have had Covid-19 in the week to July 10 - the highest rate of any age group. In Scotland around one in 90 people are estimated to have had Covid-19 in the week to July 10 - up from one in 100 in the previous week, and the highest level since the ONS infection survey began in Scotland at the end of October 2020.

For Wales, the ONS describes the trend as “uncertain” with an estimate of one in 360 people testing positive - broadly unchanged from one in 340 in the previous week and close to levels last seen at the beginning of March.

Professor James Naismith, director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute at from the University of Oxford, said it was a “reasonable assumption” that cases will continue to grow and will accelerate after Monday’s further easing of restrictions in England.

He added: “We are doubling cases every 12 to 18 days. Vaccination will act as a drag on the rate of spread thankfully. The vaccine rollout across US, EU, UK, China and other developed countries is encouraging. Tragically, Delta will cause a catastrophe in less developed countries where vaccination coverage is low.”