Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox, leader of the Isle of Wight council, has urged residents to get Covid tests with the increase of the Delta variant in the country.
Speaking at the first cabinet meeting since the elections, Cllr Peacey-Wilcox has reiterated the importance of continual Covid testing through lateral flow kits.
Fewer than five cases on the Island
Although fewer than five cases of the Delta variant have been found on the Island, according to Public Health England data up to 9th June, health secretary Matt Hancock warned MPs in the House of Commons the variant accounts for 96 per cent of cases across the country.
He said the new variant had given the virus new legs because it spreads more easily and the number of cases and hospitalisations are rising.
Delay in restrictions easing
The further spread of the virus has been the reason why step four of easing restrictions has been delayed by four weeks to allow more people to be vaccinated.
In that time frame, Mr Hancock said more people be vaccinated, with younger age cohorts offered the jab, which can stop hospitalisations.
Check symptoms and get tested
With the most common symptoms of the Delta variant being a headache, sore throat and runny nose, Cllr Peacey-Wilcox said,
“Please do be wary. You can get tests from pharmacies so please, please get those tests and check yourselves as you could be contaminating others and you don’t know.”
Love: Tests by tourists
Cabinet member for public health, Cllr Karl Love has asked tourists to also take a Covid test before coming to the Island in an effort to keep the Island’s community safe and stop transmission ahead of what could be a busy summer with more people ‘staycationing’.
So far, up to 15th June, there have been 36 new Covid cases found on the Island.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is part of. Read here to find about more about how that scheme works on the Island. Some alterations and additions may have been made by News OnTheWight. Ed
