Public Health England dismisses reports of new Covid-19 variant linked to Boardmasters
Officials insist there is no evidence to suggest a surge in cases linked to festivals like Newquay relates to a new strain
Last updated 31st Aug 2021
Public Health England is dismissing claims a new variant of coronavirus has emerged from Cornwall's Boardmasters.
It is investigating around 5,000 cases linked to the festival in Newquay.
However, PHE says there is no evidence to suggest a surge in cases linked to festivals relates to a new Covid-19 strain.
Officials say they will keep monitoring the data.
In a statement released on Sunday (August 29th), Public Health England said: "There is no evidence to date that the surge in cases linked to festivals relates to a new variant or strain, but this will be continually monitored.
"We are consistently reviewing all sequencing data to monitor and assess the emergence of new variants and do this for any surge in cases".
We have spoken to the organisers of Cornwall's Boardmasters, who say they continue to work with Public Health official in terms of monitoring the data.
Their current statement reads: "Since the government allowed live events to return, we have worked closely with Cornwall Council’s public health team, putting in place risk management measures above and beyond national guidelines.
"These included use of the NHS Covid Pass as a condition of entry, which was introduced during the Government Events Research Programme earlier this year and is being recommended as best-practice at other large events.
"The system detected over 450 people who would otherwise have been at risk of passing on the virus and as a result did not attend our Watergate Bay site or left the festival early.
"We are grateful to them and everyone else who took the extra steps this year.
"No event is able to eliminate risk entirely and the latest Test & Trace data includes reported infections among the 76,000 people who visited the festival or related activities at Fistral Beach, in Newquay and the wider area during the week of Boardmasters.
"We will continue to work with our public health partners to understand the extent to which attendance at the festival has contributed to the figures.
"We look forward to sharing our experience with our local authority partners and other large events so we can all continue to provide much needed economic benefit to our communities and entertainment to our loyal audiences".