‘Concerning’ increase in Flintshire Delta variant – majority in those aged 20-29

A “CONCERNING” increase in cases of the Covid Delta variant in Flintshire has led to calls for members of the public to follow rules.

A total of 23 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the county on Friday – the joint highest amount of any area in Wales alongside Cardiff.

Flintshire Council’s chief executive has revealed almost all of the positive test results currently being returned in north Wales are of the variant first identified in India.

Providing an update to councillors on the situation at a meeting, Colin Everett said the majority of people who tested positive were aged 20 to 29.

He said it was believed groups mixing in larger numbers was one of the main causes of the rise in infection rates.

While he stressed it was yet to have an impact on the amount of people being admitted to hospital, Mr Everett said it was crucial for residents to continue observing the restrictions put in place by the Welsh Government.

He said: “Current cases are concerning if you think that a couple of weeks ago, we were down to some days where we had one or two new positive index cases coming into the Flintshire Test and Trace service and some days it was zero.

“The last seven days we’ve had 78 cases to deal with and there’s a few more than that, because the regional team have taken the more complex ones. Overnight since yesterday, we’ve had 26.

“Clearly the more relaxed the regulations and the better the weather, the more people have socialised.”

Mr Everett told members of the council’s Covid recovery committee that most people who tested positive last year in Flintshire had only come into contact with one or two others.

However, he said that out of the 78 cases the county’s Test, Trace and Protect team dealt with this week, there were almost 360 further contacts who needed to be traced.

He said: “We are appealing to people for continued vigilance and if you’re in one of those groups that can’t work from home, please use the lateral flow test system.
“If you get a call from test and trace, please follow the rules and abide by it.
“We know the public are worn out and weary from all this advice from a horrible 15 or 16 months, but it’s so important people continue to work with us.
“If people who could potentially be positive but don’t know it yet aren’t conforming with self-isolation, they themselves create a risk.”

By Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter