Visitors and day-trippers urged to have Covid contingency plan as Cornwall's case rates surge
Public Health England has issued a warning as the Duchy is designated an 'Enhanced Response Area'
Health officials are concerned this bank holiday weekend could lead to another surge in coronavirus infections across Cornwall and the South West.
The concerns were raised during a Covid-19 briefing held by Public Health England (PHE) on Wednesday.
Our region already has the highest coronavirus infection rates in the country, which has been largely blamed on summer visitors bringing the virus with them now all restrictions have eased.
Data for the week to last Sunday (22nd August) shows Cornwall's coronavirus case rate is the highest, at 828 per 100,000 people.
On Friday (August 27th), it was announced that Cornwall and Devon are being designated as 'Enhanced Response Areas' for coronavirus.
Professor Mike Wade, PHE's Deputy Regional Director and NHS Regional Director of Public Health, said: "If you look at the rate of infection in the last four to six weeks, they've been increasing.
"I think they have escalated and rapidly over the last couple of weeks, which is a reflection of the seasonal swell (of visitors) that we've experienced in a lot of parts of the South West".
What do the figures show?
Cornwall recorded 4,768 new cases of coronavirus in the seven days to Sunday August 22nd.
That is a case rate of 828.5 per 100,000 people - the highest of any local authority region in England.
The areas of Cornwall with the highest rates of infection are:
Newquay East - 2,287.8 per 100,000 people
St Columb Minor & Porth - 1,878.0 per 100,000 people
Newquay West - 1,877.6 per 100,000 people
Perranporth and Goonhavern - 1,330.6 per 100,000 people
St Ives and Halsetown - 1,150.1 per 100,000 people
Truro South and Central - 1,099.1 per 100,000 people
Latest 24 hour figures show Cornwall recorded 364 new cases of coronavirus, taking the total number of positive tests to 34,865 since the pandemic began.
Coronavirus case rates for each area are detailed on Public Health England's interactive map.
Public Health England is urging all visitors to Cornwall and the South West to have a Covid action plan for the bank holiday.
Professor Mike Wade says the message is clear: "Visitors should take a Lateral Flow Test before travelling and if positive, they should stay at home and get a PCR test. If people have got symptoms, they shouldn't be travelling, they shouldn't be visiting - as a day-tripper or coming on holiday".
Speaking about having an action plan, Professor Wade said visitors should ask the following questions: "Would somebody know how to get a PCR test? Is somebody in a position to be able to self-isolate if they're away from home? Can they get home safely and without exposing other members of the public?"
In terms of thinking ahead, Professor Wade added: "They need to avoid queueing where possible so pre-booking to eat is really important.
"We know that in terms of Cornwall, in particular, at the moment we've got high volumes of visitors so that pre-planning, that pre-booking is really important".