More support to tackle rise in Delta cases
MILLIONS more people across the North West and Birmingham will get extra support to help tackle a rise in cases of the Delta variant, the Government has announced.
It means that one in six people in England – 9.4 million – will get increased testing capability, military support and face stricter guidance around non-essential travel.
The package, the same as that for Manchester and Lancashire, comes as infection rates soar.
Birmingham, Blackpool, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Liverpool City Region and Warrington will get more support.
Surge testing is to be deployed in an area of Bracknell Forest, Berks.
Director of public health Matthew Ashton said: “The rise in cases is concerning and is a stark reminder that Covid-19 has not gone away.”
But Labour laid the blame at the door of Boris Johnson for failing to put India on the travel red list earlier. Figures show 20,000 people arrived from India between April 2 and 23 when travel was banned.
Health Minister Edward Argar yesterday admitted “there’s no way of knowing” if closing the borders earlier could have saved the end of lockdown. Labour leader Keir Starmer blasted the “pathetic” border policy. They will force a Commons vote on border policy today.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “We are doing everything we can to stop the Delta variant.”