Shropshire health bosses urge caution as Indian Covid variant spreads across country

In the week running up to May 13, 31 new cases were reported in Shropshire – a 45 per cent decrease on the previous week.

The seven-day infection rate was 9.6 per 100,000 people – lower than the regional and national averages.

In comparison, the number of new Covid cases in Telford and Wrekin increased slightly last week, but cases remain low.

Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health, said: “It is encouraging to see a significant decrease in the number of reported Covid-19 cases, but with the Indian variant of concern B.1.617.2 spreading rapidly across the country, we need to remain cautious.

“There are now at least 86 local authorities with five or more confirmed cases of the new variant.

"Shropshire Council is not one of them. We have had two confirmed cases, linked to clusters out of the county.

"These individuals and their contacts have followed the guidelines and have isolated. No further cases have been reported at this stage.

“As a council we are prepared, and have procedures in place, if we do need to act quickly and begin surge testing, but I encourage everyone to play their part and help stop the spread.

"Please continue to follow the guidelines, test twice a week and get the vaccine when it is offered.”

Testing and isolation

Liz Noakes, Telford and Wrekin's director for public health, says the authority was working to respond quickly to outbreaks, including one involving one of the Indian variants.

"Through testing and the isolation of positive cases, we are keeping cases low and the virus under control," she said.

"Thank you to everyone who has got a test when asked.

"Each one helps us to track and stop the spread of the virus."

As part of a precautionary targeted testing campaign to minimise the spread of one of the Indian variants, Telford & Wrekin Council is asking groups of people in the borough to get tested.

As a priority, secondary-school aged children in Newport, staff at the schools and their extended families and support bubbles from Burton Borough, Haberdashers' Adams Grammar and Newport Girls' High School Academy are urged to take a PCR Covid-19 test, even if they are not showing symptoms and even if the adults in the families have been vaccinated.

Families with primary-school-aged children in Newport and all other Newport residents are encouraged to get PCR tested as soon as they can.

A testing centre is now open in Newport at Shuker playing fields, in Barnmeadow Road.

A PCR test can be booked on the government website for any other test sites.

When booking, people should say the 'council has asked me to get tested even though I do not have symptoms.'

Public Health England has advised that, while the Covid-19 Indian variant is considered more transmissible, there is no firm evidence yet to show this variant has any greater impact on the severity of disease or evades the vaccine.