Northamptonshire health chiefs "watching and waiting" as Government tackles South African Covid strain

Officials say there are currently no cases in the county but top scientist believes many are going undetected
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Northamptonshire health chiefs are "watching and waiting" after more cases of different strains of Covid-19 across the country.

The Government yesterday revealed it has identified 105 cases of the South Africa variant — 11 of which cannot be traced to travel abroad — although scientists fear the true number could be 20 times higher.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The county's Director of Public Health today confirmed no cases of the South African or Brazilian variants have been identified in Northamptonshire, nor in the East Midlands.

But Lucy Wightman admitted finding the mutant strains of the virus is worrying.

She said: "Clearly there are some concerning signs that new variants — and we are aware of at least three — are clearly in this country.

"The Government is doing everything in its power to identify and isolate those people as soon as possible. But those who are seemingly not associated with travel are a real concern.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We are watching and waiting and staying in contact with Public Health England but, at the moment, there are no known cases of South African or Brazilian variants in the East Midlands."

Mass testing under way yesterday in areas of England where cases of the South African variant have been detected. Photo: Getty ImagesMass testing under way yesterday in areas of England where cases of the South African variant have been detected. Photo: Getty Images
Mass testing under way yesterday in areas of England where cases of the South African variant have been detected. Photo: Getty Images

Paul Hunter, the University of East Anglia’s professor of medicine, fears there more cases of the faster-spreading variants have been missed.

Prof Hunter told the Sun: “The fact we are only doing surveillance on a minority of infections almost certainly means we have more cases in the UK.

"The concern is it is more contagious and also more resistant to vaccine.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Around 80,000 people living in the affected areas in London, Surrey, Kent, Hertfordshire, the West Midlands and Merseyside have today been told to eat what is in their cupboards and fridges rather than risk going out food shopping.

Extra testing is under way while Universities Minister Michelle Donelan begged locals to stick to the rules even more strictly — although no extra restrictions will be in force because the whole country is already in lockdown.

She told Sky News: "Think again before you go about activities, even those within the rules such as essential shopping.

"Do you really need to go for that shopping or have you got enough in? Could you work from home, have that extra conversation with your employer?"

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Numbers of positive tests in Northamptonshire have halved to 2,584 a week from a peak of 5,153 on January 5, according to Government figures.

Mrs Wightman added: "There is something positive locally. Our numbers are coming down, albeit slowly, and we should recognise the achievement and sacrifice we are making is making a difference."