Indian Covid Variant detected 19 times in North East so far.
The Indian variant of Covid-19 has now been detected 19 times across the North East – though numbers here remain the lowest of anywhere in England.
According to new Public Health England (PHE) data, several positive virus cases involving the fast-spreading mutation now have been identified around the region – amounting to 1.5% of the total number of current cases here.
Three of the cases are travel-related, health officials confirmed, while PHE added that the North East’s figure is the lowest of any English region.
However, no further information has been provided on where exactly those 19 are. The number covers all of Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton, Hartlepool, and Darlington.
The India variant is one of four strains designated as “of concern” by UK authorities, as well as those which emerged from Kent, South Africa and Brazil, and it is feared that they could be more resistant to vaccines and pose a threat to lockdown easing plans.
But PHE said there was “currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe illness, increased risk of mortality or makes the current vaccines any less effective”.
Prof Peter Kelly, Regional Director of Public Health England North East, said: “As we progress through the roadmap variants are likely to be part of how we live with COVID-19 and it is vital that we adapt and respond to the changing nature of the virus to protect our region and North East communities.
“We are not seeing many cases of the Indian Variant of Concern in the North East compared to other parts of the country; however, we must not be complacent with this or any other variant.
“Our public health advice to everyone remains the same: the best way to stop the spread of the virus is to follow the guidelines – remember hands, face, space and fresh air, get vaccinated and take up the offer of regular testing.
“It is more important than ever that people come forward for PCR testing and to isolate when they have symptoms, no matter how mild, in order to find cases and break chains of transmission and have asymptomatic testing when requested by their local health protection and public health teams. Everyone can order free rapid tests to their home.
“If everyone plays their part by continuing to follow the health advice in their area, we can help to break the chain of transmission and protect our loved ones.”
On Monday, North Tyneside Council confirmed that at least eight Covid cases had been linked to an outbreak among staff at the Allard’s Lounge bar in Tynemouth – one of which was found to be carrying the Indian mutation of concern, known officially as B.1.617.2.
All customers who visited Allard’s Lounge, in Front Street, between April 23 and May 3 are being urged to get a Covid test.
Newcastle City Council also confirmed that the fast-spreading strain had been detected in the city, but has so far declined to say when or where it has been found.
Council officials indicated that they believe current virus outbreaks in Newcastle are under control and, unlike the Tynemouth cases, are not linked to a hospitality venue or other public setting that could pose a risk of the virus spreading through the general population.
Prof Eugene Milne, Newcastle’s public health director, said: “If we think that there is a situation where there is a danger to the general public then of course we would publicise that.”
North East councils were asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Thursday to provide details of how many cases of the Indian variant had been detected in their area so far.
Only Sunderland City Council did so, confirming there were no cases there.
The increasing spread of the Indian variant, responsible for a surge in cases in hotspots such as Bolton and Blackburn, has led to concerns about whether the government will be able to stick to its lockdown roadmap.
Lockdown measures are due to be relaxed next Monday, including to allow pubs and restaurants to open indoors, and it is hoped that all restrictions can be lifted from June 21.
But when asked if local lockdowns may be needed in response to the Indian variant, Boris Johnson said he was “anxious” about the strain and refused to rule out imposing regional Covid restrictions again.
Speaking at a primary school in Ferryhill, County Durham, the Prime Minister said that surge testing and tracing could be used to contain the variant but that “the public would want us to rule nothing out”.
He added: “At the moment, I can see nothing that dissuades me from thinking we will be able to go ahead on Monday and indeed on June 21 everywhere, but there may be things we have to do locally and we will not hesitate to do them if that is the advice we get.”