No Indian covid variant in Devon

And overall rate still low

There are no known cases of the Indian variant of coronavirus in Devon at the moment, the county council has said.

The new variant is thought to spread more easily between people, and the current vaccines are still effective against it.

As people plan to visit friends and families during the half term holiday, Public Health Devon is advising people to be cautious.

“If you must travel to any of those locations, please be extra cautious,” said its director, Steve Brown.

“Try to meet outside with family or friends rather than inside where possible. And please keep 2 metres apart from people that you don’t live with (unless you have formed a support bubble with them), and this includes friends and family who you do not live with.”

He added: “Lateral flow tests are quick and easy to do. Making them part of your regular weekly routine – especially when catching up with friends and family – will help to identify positive cases among people who may not be showing symptoms, so that they can self-isolate.

“If you are away visiting friends and family this holiday, please remember to take tests with you, and take them again on your return home. Testing and self-isolating if positive are how we stop the virus spreading.”

Infection rates in Devon are currently 9.6/100,000, among the lowest in England, although are slightly up on the 7.9/100,000 the county was at this time last week.