'Don't fall at the final hurdle' - urge leaders

North East leaders have urged households ‘not to fall at the final hurdle’ after a slight rise in Delta variant cases across the region.

Council leaders on the LA7 – which represents South Tyneside, Sunderland, Durham, Northumberland. Gateshead, North Tyneside and Newcastle, said the region has 149 cases of the delta variant across the North East’s 12 local authority areas – an increase of 68 on the previous week. They said while surge testing, surge vaccinations and increased communications support has been put in place in those areas most-affected, it is vital we all continue to follow the rules to try and prevent what they described as “small, controlled outbreaks” from taking hold.

“We have worked too hard to fall at the final hurdle,” the LA7 said in a statement.

“It has been fantastic to see our cities, towns, coast and countryside buzzing with activity in the glorious weather.

“The atmosphere has been tremendous and businesses have been able to showcase the innovative way they have used outside space, along with reaping the rewards of their efforts to ensure their internal space is Covid-secure.

“The fact we have been able to enjoy this less restrictive way of life is down to the hard work and efforts of every person in the North East who continue to do their bit.

“As expected though, these freedoms come with risks and as we have seen in the past couple of weeks those risks are heightened by the presence of the variant first discovered in India, now called the delta variant.

Chiefs said, however, that all the evidence points to the vaccination programme working.