Indian variant cases soar to more than 2,100 in a week with North more affected

Cases of the Indian variant has soared by more than 2,000 in a week across the UK with official figures showing there is now 3,424 cases which will rise by the end of Friday.

Public Health England (PHE) said the latest weekly data the B1617.2 mutation has increased by 2,111 compared to the previous week.

Most cases are concentrated in the North, mainly in Bolton and London, PHE warned that they are seeing more “clusters of cases” across the country.

PHE warned that there is a “rapid rise” in the Indian variant in the North of England and Dr Meera Chand said it is essential those who live in the worst affected areas must get their vaccine.

Andrew Furber, the regional director of PHE in the North West told Sky News, “We are seeing a rapid rise in cases in Bolton and in Blackburn, and we are now seeing a spread further afield to Burnley.

“So we are beginning to see it spread much further throughout the North West.”

Furber said in these areas testing and vaccinations have been “turbo-boosted,” but warned they would have to have people “literally in their thousands” turn up to get the vaccine.

The health chief added, “We do need to learn to live with this virus.

“We will have this virus circulating in the autumn, into the winter, through to the spring next year.”

Scientists warned Boris Johnson that the current vaccination surge may not be enough to stop the Indian variant from spreading across the UK.

A scientific advisor told Sky News, “It might take three to four weeks to immunise Bolton, but the epidemic has been doubling every week.

“So just using vaccination may not be enough to contain it, meaning you may actually have to put places into lockdown.”