Covid cases rise in Cornwall amid G7 summit and start to busy tourist season
The number of new cases confirmed across Devon and Cornwall in the last week is the highest since the end of February
Cornwall has seen a rise in coronavirus cases as the Duchy faces a busy week with the G7 summit, a number of protests and summer tourists on holiday.
Public Health England has confirmed that Cornwall now has 5 cases of the Delta variant, which was first identified in India.
Weekly data shows that the Delta variant now accounts for 90% of cases across the UK.
Novel genotyping tests are being used to detect the Delta (VOC-21APR-02) variant, giving a result for action within 48 hours. As cases of the variant continue to rise, the tests are helping to rapidly inform public health action.
Data from these tests is available for the first time this week, as Public Health England (PHE) figures show that cases have risen by 29,892 to 42,323.
The number of new coronavirus cases confirmed across Devon and Cornwall in the last week is the highest since the end of February, with a huge rise seen in Cornwall.
A total of 444 new cases were confirmed across the two counties for the second successive week – with the total since the start of the pandemic at 48,996 – with every single region seeing a rise.
It is the highest weekly total since the week of February 20-26, but infection rates in Devon remain among the lowest in England, and the vast majority of the cases are in groups which would not yet have been vaccinated, or only received one dose of the vaccine.
Government stats show that 444 new cases have been confirmed across the region in the past seven days in both pillar 1 data from tests carried out by the NHS and pillar 2 data from commercial partners, compared to 132 new cases confirmed last week.
Of the 444 new cases confirmed since June 4th, 216 were in Cornwall, with 9 in East Devon, 42 in Exeter, 13 in Mid Devon, 14 in North Devon, 77 in Plymouth, 11 in South Hams, 25 in Teignbridge, 18 in Torbay, 6 in Torridge and 13 in West Devon.
As of Friday (11th June) figures show that 14,553 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
That was a rise of 82 within 24 hours.
Public Health England has recently changed the way it records the figures.
Cases identified through a positive lateral flow test – those which can deliver results within half an hour – will no longer be counted if the person then takes a PCR test, which is sent to a lab to be checked, and receives a negative result within three days.
These cases are now being removed daily.
The rate of infection in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly now stands at 2,545 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 7,051.
Businesses in Cornwall have also been reporting positive coronavirus cases.
Three more pubs and restaurants in the Duchy have confirmed that they have closed after members of staff tested positive for Covid-19.
It was revealed on Friday that The Front in Falmouth had closed after staff tested positive and Cornwall Council said that public health officials were aware of a small number of venues in the area which had recorded positive tests.
Now it has been reported that Boo Koos in Falmouth and Muddy Beach in Penryn have both closed their doors due to positive Covid-19 test results.
The Shipwrights Arms in Helford also announced that it was closing after recording a positive Covid-19 test amongst staff.