New variants of Covid ‘likely to be in Torbay’

NEW variants of Covid-19 are ‘likely’ to be in Torbay the director of public health has warned, as cases continue to rise in the Bay.

Dr Caroline Dimond says “the virus is still spreading too much in the Bay” and believes the new variants are likely to have reached the area as coronavirus continues to rise, even though numbers are falling across the rest of the South West in general.

Torbay’s rolling rate is 182.7, with 31 new cases taking the total to 249. She said: “We are seeking verification on the new variants. I cannot say categorically because they do not test every single case. It is accepted that the UK variant is everywhere.

“But with these other variants the trouble is they only test a sample of the cases. We are looking to see if there is anything underlying this.”

Dr Dimond said the trend is worrying and her team are dealing with outbreaks at businesses where workers have broken the law by continuing to work and not isolate after getting mild symptoms of Covid-19.

She appealed to business owners to keep staff working remotely where possible and to workers not to forget to social distance, wash hands and wear masks, even during work breaks.

Dr Dimond asked everybody in the Bay to assume that they are asymptomatic carriers of Covid and be extra vigilant.