Five cases of coronavirus Delta variant recorded in Cornwall over the last week
The strain, first detected in India, now makes up 91% of new cases across the UK
Last updated 14th Jun 2021
Further confirmed cases of the Delta variant of coronavirus have been recorded in Cornwall over the last week, new figures reveal.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the Covid-19 mutation that originated in India now makes up 91% of new cases in the UK, with evidence suggesting it may be more dangerous than the Alpha - formerly known as the Kent variation.
Public Health England figures show five cases of the Delta variant had been recorded in Cornwall by June 9th.
Between one and four cases were recorded up to June 2nd.
They were among at least 563 cases of the VOC-21APR-02mutation identified across the South West - the least affected of England's nine regions.
The North West - where variant hotspots Bolton and Blackburn are located – continued to have the highest numbers identified - 16,825 Delta variant cases have been recorded there.
Public Health England said on Friday (June 11th) that 42,323 cases of the Delta variant have been confirmed in the UK, up from 29,892 a week ago.
The increase in confirmed cases has been driven partly by a reduction in test turnaround times and a faster process for identifying cases of the variant, PHE said.
Growth rates for Delta cases are high across all parts of the country, it added, with cases doubling every 4.5 days in certain areas.
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, chairwoman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus, said: "These figures should set alarm bells ringing in Government as we approach June 21st.
"The Government must immediately explain to the public whether this exponential growth suggests the country is in line for a severe third wave, and if so what it is doing to prevent this.
"As well as hospitalisations and deaths, ministers need to consider the debilitating impact of long Covid which is already affecting an estimated one million people.
"Simply letting this highly contagious strain of the virus rip through unvaccinated younger people risks leaving more with long Covid and creating a ticking time bomb for our NHS".
Liberal Democrat MP, Layla Morgan
Different PHE figures show that 42 people across England had died with the Delta variant as of June 7th.
Of them, 23 were unvaccinated, seven had received their first dose more than 21 days prior and 12 died more than two weeks after receiving their second jab.
The figures also show that two thirds of the 1,234 people who attended A&E in England between February 1st and June 7th and who were confirmed as having the Delta variant of coronavirus were unvaccinated.
Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: "With numbers of Delta variant cases on the rise across the country, vaccination is our best defence.
"If you are eligible, we urge you to come forward and be vaccinated.
"Remember that two doses provide significantly more protection than a single dose.
"However, while vaccination reduces the risk of severe disease, it does not eliminate it.
"With data showing that Delta is significantly more transmissible than Alpha, it is just as important as ever to follow public health advice, which has not changed.
"Get vaccinated, work from home where you can and remember ‘hands, face, space, fresh air’ at all times.
"These measures work, and they save lives".
Dr Jenny Harries, UK Health Security Agency
What are the overall figures for coronavirus cases in Cornwall?
It comes as the number of new coronavirus cases confirmed across Devon and Cornwall in the last week is the highest since the end of February.
A total of 444 were confirmed across the two counties for the second successive week, including 216 in Cornwall.
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.
Read more: Covid cases rise in Cornwall amid G7 summit and start to busy tourist season
The Prime Minister is due to make an announcement about the final lifting of lockdown on Monday evening (14th June).
Boris Johnson is expected to announce a four-week delay on the easing of all restrictions, due to a rise in cases of the Delta variant.