DELTA variant cases in the UK have risen by 35,204 this week – as a new strain is under investigation.

There have now been a total of 111,157 recorded infections of the mutation in Britain.

? Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest updates

Public Health England said this is a 46 per cent increase on the week before, with around 95 per cent of all UK Covid cases as the Delta variant.

An extra 514 people were admitted to hospital in England with Covid up to June 21 – 304 were unvaccincated.

Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency said: "Through the success of our vaccination programme, data suggest we have begun to break the link between cases and hospitalisations.

"This is hugely encouraging news, but we cannot become complacent.

"Two doses of vaccine are far more effective against Covid-19 than a single dose, so please make sure that you come forward to get your second dose as soon as you are invited.

"Whilst vaccines provide excellent protection, they do not provide total protection, so it is still as important as ever that we continue to exercise caution.

"Protect yourself and the people around you by working from home where possible, and by practising 'hands, face, space, fresh air' at all times."

It came as:

• Orders to wear face masks in some setting are to be dropped on July 19, a minister said
• 25 places are now on the Delta variant watchlist revealed as Covid cases up 20% in a week
• Now Macron supports Merkel’s call for co-ordinated travel restrictions which could shut out Brits over Delta fears
• England team have had a Covid scare at Euro 2020 base as Sky Sports presenter tests positive and is forced out of St George’s Park
• The UK reported 16,703 new cases in the last 24 hours – but just 21 deaths

It comes as another new variant has been designated a Variant Under Investigation.

Lambda (C.37) is now being watched, due to several notable mutations including L452Q and F490S.

The World Health Organisation classified Lambda as a Variant of Interest on 14 June.

Six cases of Lambda have been identified across the country to date, all have been linked to overseas travel.

The earliest documented sample was reported in Peru and Lambda has been sequenced in 26 countries to date.

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 laboratory testing to better understand the impact of mutations on the behaviour of the virus.

VARIANT WATCHLIST

Twenty five places on a Delta variant watchlist have been revealed – as Covid cases rise 20 per cent in a week.

Infections have risen in seven of these carefully monitored hotspots in the last seven days.

All eyes are on the case numbers, as Boris Johnson makes his final decisions on when Freedom Day will come.

Cornwall is not on the watchlist, but was named as a holidayspot that has seen cases rise by experts working on the app "due to the sudden influx of holidaymakers over half term, as well as the recent G7 summit".

Infections there have double in a week to 148 cases per 100,000 people.

The most recent data up to June 19 shows Nottingham on the watchlist as the top potential hotspot, with a rate of 752 cases per 100,000 people after infections rose last week.

A number of Scottish areas are also on the list, after cases spiked in various regions.

Liverpool is still on the watchlist with the largest rate of infection, with around 1,710 cases per 100,000 people – but it hasn't increased in the last week.

Source: Read Full Article