Cases of Covid Indian variant identified in St Helens

Ruth Du Plessis, director of public health at St Helens Borough Council, confirmed to the Star that three cases have been evident in the borough.

Enhanced tracing to locate people those who tested positive have come into contact with is underway.

According to official data, in the two weeks to May 8, cases of the B.1.617.2 Covid variant were found in the borough.

The Wellcome Sanger Institute has been tracking the variant's spread in England with help from Public Health England.

Analysis of the data by Sky News suggests the variant was detected in 127 local authorities in the week ending May 8 – compared with 71 the week before.

However, 40 of the 127 areas only identified one case.

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There are also cases in neighbouring Wigan, although the most significant spread of the variant in the North West, as widely reported, has been in Bolton, Blackburn and Sefton.

Generally, Covid rates in St Helens are rising but are still relatively low. There were 38 cases at St Helens in the week to May 13, up from 24 the previous week.

A third of people in St Helens have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.

In a statement Ms Du Plessis said: “We have been made aware there are three cases of the Covid-19 Indian Variant in St Helens borough.

"This is not unsurprising as a result of the large number of cases across the north west and we would expect to see some of that spread due to factors such as travelling for work outside of our borough.

“We are working with Public Health England and conducting enhanced contact tracing with the positive cases to identify their contacts.

"So if you are contacted by the St Helens Test and Trace Team or the NHS Test and Trace Team and told to isolate please follow the guidance.

"If you need support we can also provide that through our St Helens Together programme which includes things like delivery of food and medicines if needed as well as support to claim for financial support for those eligible.

"As these are just a couple of individual cases at present there are no further steps that the public need to take other than simply continuing to follow the guidance to and to reduce the risk of spread which is washing hands regularly, covering your face in enclosed environments like shops and public transport, giving people space and trying to limit your contacts and wherever possible meeting others outdoors in the fresh air where there is less risk of spread. It is also important for everyone to continue to get tested twice a week.

“Please also make the most of the symptom free testing kits that are available at our symptom free test sites and our mobile testing unit travelling across the borough.

"Alternatively you can book your kit to be delivered for free to your home. That way testing regularly helps us to catch cases early and reduce the risk of spread.

“If you have any of the symptoms – a high temperature, or a new, continuous cough or a loss of sense of smell or taste – please isolate and book a traditional test immediately.

"Get all your testing information for both symptom free and symptomatic testing here www.sthelens.gov.uk/letsgettested.”

The BBC reported Health Secretary Matt Hancock as stressing: "This isn't just about Bolton and Blackburn."

The rise comes comes as millions of people begin enjoying new freedoms as lockdown is eased.

However, the Government has warned its next review of social distancing rules may be delayed.

Mr Hancock told the House of Commons there were now 2,323 confirmed cases of the Indian variant in the UK.

"There are now 86 local authorities (out of 343) where there are five or more confirmed cases," he said.

Mr Hancock said the Indian variant was now the dominant strain of the virus in Bolton as well as Blackburn and Darwen and was rising in all age groups.

He said most people in hospital in those areas had been eligible for a vaccine but had chosen not to have it – and urged anyone not sure whether to get jabbed to "look at what's happening in Bolton".

In St Helens NHS data shows 51,276 people had received both Covid jabs by May 2 – 35 per cent of those aged 16 and over, based on the latest population estimates from the Office for National Statistics.

Of those to have received both jabs, 43,611 were aged 45 and over – 51 per cent of the age group.

It means 7,665 people aged between 16 to 44 have received both doses.