THERE are 'isolated cases' of the indian variant in Worcestershire according to Public Health England. 

Dr Kathryn Cobain, Director of Public Health for Worcestershire, says they 'are aware of isolated cases in Worcestershire of the variant first identified in India' and that it is right to be 'cautious'.

She said: “Our Public Health team are continuing to work with PHE to ensure an appropriate response is taken for every variant of concern.

"As with many other Local Authorities, we are aware of isolated cases in Worcestershire of the variant first identified in India.

"It is right that we should be cautious about any new variants of the virus, and I appreciate that people may be anxious in the current climate.  

"Viruses often evolve and this is not unusual.

"Our priority locally is to ensure that all cases of COVID-19 self-isolate which will prevent onward transmission of the virus. 

"It is important to say that there is currently no evidence that the new variants cause more severe illness.

"The best way to stop transmission and to keep yourself safe remains following the Hand, Face, Space guidance and taking the appropriate tests regularly.”

This comes after Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, announced yesterday that there are now 86 local authorities with five or more confirmed cases of the Indian Covid variant.

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

This means there has been a 77% increase in confirmed cases of the variant over the last five days.

However, there are thousands of different variants of Covid circulating across the world and there is no evidence that any of them cause much more serious illness for the vast majority of people.

As with the original version, the risk remains highest for people who are elderly or have significant underlying health conditions.

But a virus being more infectious and equally dangerous will in itself lead to more deaths in an unvaccinated population.