DELTA CASES TRIPLE IN BOROUGH
99 CONFIRMED OR SUSPECTED CASES SO FAR
SUSPECTED cases of the Delta Covid variant have tripled over the last week in North East Lincolnshire.
There have been 99 confirmed or suspected cases so far – up from just 28 the week before.
Most of the positive cases have been found in young, unvaccinated people, with several outbreaks in the hospitality industry.
This rapid spread has caused another jump in the area’s Covid infection rate.
It now stands at 71.4 per 100,000, compared to 43 per 100,000 last week.
In total, there were 114 Covid cases of all strains detected in the area for the week starting June 7 – as much as the previous four weeks combined.
Figures published by North East Lincolnshire Council clearly show the new variant, which has caused a delay in lockdown, taking hold in the borough.
Its latest report into the pandemic states: “Thirteen cases of the Delta variant have been definitively confirmed in North East Lincolnshire with a further 86 cases considered likely to be Delta variant, almost all of which came from tests taken since the beginning of June.
“Of the 99 confirmed and probable Delta variant cases in North East Lincolnshire, 73 are in people 40 years old or under.
“The hospitality sector has seen the most outbreaks in recent weeks.”
The most affected age category is currently 21 to 40-year-olds, with females more likely to test positive than men.
The positivity rate has continued to rise to 3.5 per cent, which is above England’s national average.
New cases have been concentrated in the South, Humberston and New Waltham, Haverstoe and Croft Baker wards, where just under half of them have been detected.
However, in positive news there are no cases in care homes for the fifth consecutive weeks.
Hospital admissions are also remaining low, with just one Covid patient in the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital and none in Scunthorpe.
Nationally, the country has seen the sixth consecutive weekly increase in Covid rates after months of decreases.
The government has made the decision to postpone the end of lockdown for four weeks to give more time to get the Delta variant under control.
It is hoped that more vaccinations will enable the country to reopen on July 19 instead.