Sage to host emergency meeting on spread of Indian Covid variant

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) is reportedly due to hold discussions today about the spread of the Indian variant and how it could have an impact on the Government’s road map out of lockdown.

Infection rates in part of England such as Bolton have soared in the past week, with experts blaming the rise on the new variant.

Despite the concerns, there is no evidence of a spike in cases in south Essex.

There has also been no mass testing carried out in areas, suggesting there are very few concerns about the spread of the variant.

The latest weekly data shows Colchester has seen a rise in cases in the past seven days compared to the week before.

The borough has an average infection rate of 14.4 cases per 100,00 people – but that is still very low compared to figures recorded earlier this year.

There were 28 cases in the week to May 8 confirmed in the area.

Most parts of the town also remain almost "Covid free", with less than three cases recorded in the week to May 7.

Concern over spread of Indian Covid variant - here's the situation in Colchester

Here are the latest number of cases in each part of Colchester in the week to May 7:

• Central Colchester - 5
• Old Heath & Rowhedge - 5
• Monkwick - less than three
• Parson's Heath - less than three
• Mile End and Braiswick - less than three
• Greenstead - less than three
• Abbey Field - less than three
• Highwoods - less than three
• New Town & Hythe - less than three
• Stanway - less than three
• Wivenhoe & University - less than three
• Marks Tey & Wakes Colne - less than three
• West Bergholt & Wormingford - less than three
• Layer-de-la-Haye, Abberton & Mersea East - less than three
• West Mersea - less than three
• Lexden - less than three
• Horkesley Heath, Langham & Dedham - less than three
• Prettygate & Westlands - less than three
• Shrub End - less than three
• Tiptree - less than three

Despite concerns over the spread of the Indian variant elsewhere in the country, scientists say there are currently no signs that infection is leading to rising hospital admissions.

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Professor Steven Riley, from Imperial College London, said that whether the road map for England continues on its planned trajectory was “a Government decision” but suggested the UK was currently in a good place.

He told Times Radio: “I think there’s two key things that have got to be kind of evaluated – if infections go up, how quickly will they go up? But then after that, are they linked to the hospitalisations?

“The top-line Government policy is driven by protecting the NHS, so even if infection starts to go up, we then need to assess whether that’s bringing a lot of new cases into hospitals, and there’s certainly no sign of that at the moment.”

Three types of the Indian variant have been identified in the UK, one of which is a variant of concern.

Professor James Naismith from the University of Oxford, however, said not enough was known to say for sure whether the variant could frustrate the UK’s vaccination programme.

“The vaccines don’t 100% prevent infection for people,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“What they do is, they almost 100% prevent hospitalisation and serious illness.

“We don’t know enough to know yet whether the Indian strain will behave differently than that.

Prof Naismith said the variant may spread “way beyond” the local areas where it has been detected, suggesting much wider community transmission of the variant.