THE INDIAN variant of Covid-19 has been identified in Wokingham borough.
Between 10 and 20% of all cases in the fortnight leading up to Saturday, May 1, were the variant which was first discovered in India.
Now associated with rising cases in Bedford, Bolton, and Blackburn, Sage predicts the Covid-19 variant is 50% more transmissible than the original strain of the virus.
This means it could affect the end of all Covid-19 restrictions on Monday, June 21.
Last week, cases of the variant rose from 520 to 1,313 in the UK.
In the borough, there were between 7 and 14 cases identified in the fortnight up to Saturday, May 1, as reported in The Guardian.
But since then, no further cases have been found.
READ MORE: From Wokingham to India, local firm’s role in coronavirus fight
Director of Public Health for Berkshire Meradin Peachy said there was no spread into the wider community from these cases.
“The few cases were directly linked to foreign travel and those affected isolated immediately and no further cases linked to them have been reported,” he said. “Since May 1, the number of cases in the borough has continued to fall and remains very low and there have been just three Covid-19 admissions to Royal Berkshire Hospital in the past three weeks.
“The stats used in the national press show the risks of using percentages when you are dealing with low real numbers – in the timeframe covered there were just 37 cases in the borough so the high 10 to 20% quoted in the press actually relate to about seven people all of whom were in household clusters that were well-managed.
“The most important point for public health was that the cases were contained and there was no spread into the community, however, we do know that VOC are now being reported across more of the country and must not be complacent in Wokingham borough.”
Mr Peachy said covid response teams are monitoring all data and ready to react to any more cases.
“It is also vital that, as restrictions are lifted, we all remain sensible – keep to basics such as hand washing; get tested and isolate if necessary and keep to those rules that are still in place,” he added.
READ MORE: Coronavirus in Wokingham – the lessons learnt and the issues to work on
Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for adult social care and well-being at the borough council criticised The Guardian for publishing the data the way it did.
“The misuse of data by the national press in this way really needs to be called out,” he said. “In Wokingham borough, and across the country, public health and other professionals are working tirelessly to contain the spread.
“What they need from the media is accurate reporting that actually reflects reality and helps people make sensible choices – not clumsy use of data that gives the wrong impression and risks raising unwarranted fears.”
