More than 50 coronavirus cases in Wales in those returning from Cornwall's Boardmasters
Anyone who attended the five-day festival at Newquay and Watergate Bay is being urged to get tested
Last updated 22nd Aug 2021
Reports of coronavirus cases linked to the Boardmasters festival in Cornwall are rising.
Health bosses in Wales say at least 56 people in the Swansea Bay area have tested positive since returning from the event in Newquay.
Newquay East has one of the highest case rates in the UK, at more than 1,200 per 100,000 people.
Latest case rates and figures for Cornwall can be found on the interactive map from Public Health England.
Anyone who went to Boardmasters is being urged to get tested, as organisers say they are monitoring the data closely.
The NHS in Wales says some music fans may also be planning to go to the upcoming Reading and Leeds festivals, and there is concern that some infected people could attend and pass the virus on further.
Sion Lingard, Public Health Wales health protection consultant in Swansea Bay, said: “We are concerned that some people who attended the Boardmasters festival and are now feeling unwell may not realise they may be infected with Covid-19.
“It’s important they get tested and, if the result is positive, to self-isolate to protect others.
“We are also calling on people to be responsible and remember they must not go to any other event, including festivals, if they have tested positive for Covid-19 or have Covid-19 symptoms.
"The Delta variant is highly transmissible and even outdoor events like music festivals have tents and marquees which are often packed out".
In a statement released on Friday, the organisers of Boardmasters said: "Like any town, we cannot eliminate risk entirely and, while it is still too early to see from the data if there has been any impact on Covid-19 cases, there are likely to be anecdotal reports of some people who were at the festival among those who test positive in the days following.
"Cornwall Council’s public health team will be closely monitoring the data in the coming weeks, as will we".
Cornwall Council also issued a statement on Friday, stating: "The changes introduced from July 19th in Step 4 of the roadmap enabled a return to social and cultural activities such as music festivals.
"The Boardmasters festival was run in a risk managed way, however we are expecting an increase in Covid-19 cases in Cornwall. We are analysing the data closely as we have done throughout the pandemic.
"Our advice to residents, anyone visiting Cornwall, or anyone who attended Boardmasters remains the same – if you have Covid symptoms then isolate immediately and book a PCR test.
"Younger people may experience milder symptoms which include a sore throat, headache or fatigue. If you have no symptoms, please continue to test twice a week with rapid Lateral Flow Tests which are available for free from pharmacies or can be delivered to your home".