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21
May 2021
Last Updated: 21/05/2021
Public Health England monitoring covid variant reported in Yorkshire
Public Health England is investigating a strain of covid that has been reported in the Yorkshire and Humber region. So far, 49 cases of the VUI-21MAY-01 variant have been confirmed and PHE has been monitoring it since April.
Public Health England is monitoring a new variant of covid that has been reported in Yorkshire.
The VUI-21MAY-01 strain has so far had 49 positive cases confirmed, most of them within the Yorkshire and Humber region, and PHE has been monitoring it since April.
PHE said on its website that it had increased testing and that there was “no evidence” that it rendered vaccines less effective.
The government agency said:
“There is currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe disease or renders the vaccines currently deployed any less effective.
“PHE is carrying out increased laboratory testing to better understand the impact of the mutations on the behaviour of the virus.”
It added:
"All appropriate public health interventions are being undertaken, including additional contact tracing and targeted testing.
"Where cases have been identified, additional follow-up of cases, testing of contacts and targeted case finding will limit the spread of variants."
Read more:
- Harrogate and Ripon vaccine centres to close in August
- Police: ‘Avoid contact’ after Indian variant found in North Yorkshire
It comes as public health bosses in North Yorkshire confirmed that cases of the B16172 variant, the so-called Indian variant, had been identified in the county.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Louise Wallace, director of public health for North Yorkshire, said the county was still “well prepared” to deal with any variants of concern and that the advice to residents remained the same.
She said:
“There have been a small number of cases of the Indian variant identified across North Yorkshire.
“As the public would expect, national Test and Trace and Public Health England have been working together to identify and follow up the cases and their contacts to minimise the risk of spread.
“Our public health advice remains the same whatever the variant of covid – continue with the basics of hands, face, space and fresh air, and meet people outside rather than inside as much as possible.”
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