More than 1 in 4 Covid cases in Solihull are Delta Plus

More than a quarter of tested samples of Covid-19 in Solihull were found to be the Delta Plus variant.

The Government is monitoring the new variant, also known as AY.4.2.

Latest figures show that Solihull has 51 Delta Plus cases out of 194 tests - a rate of 26.3%

Birmingham currently has the highest number of cases in the country with 72 cases out of 462 tested found to be the Delta Plus variant - this is a rate of 16.6%.

Scientists have said Delta Plus carries two characteristic mutations in the spike - Y145H and A222V - both of which have been found in other coronavirus lineages since the start of the pandemic.

However, these strains have remained at a low frequency until recently, with the first to carry both mutations being sequenced in April 2020.

The findings have been revealed as senior health chiefs call on more people to get their booster jabs to prevent tighter Covid restrictions from being implemented at Christmas.

There is mounting concern over rising Covid infection levels ahead of Christmas, with Health Secretary Sajid Javid warning that cases could reach 100,000 a day.

The government has insisted that Covid Plan B - which includes mandatory use of face masks - would only be activated if the NHS came under “significant pressure.”

Where in the UK has recorded the most Delta Plus cases so far?

Analysis of Covid-19 samples in England reveals the areas where the highest number of AY.4.2 variant has been identified.

Data is based on the number of confirmed cases of the Delta Plus variant from Covid-19 tests that were genomically sequenced in the week to 9 October.

These figures do not show the overall number of Delta Plus cases, as not all tests are genomically sequenced.

These are the 10 areas with the highest number of Delta Plus cases in England, based on the data available.

1. Birmingham

Number of tests sequenced: 462. Number of Delta Plus cases: 72. Percentage of cases that were Delta Plus: 15.6

2. Dorset

Number of tests sequenced: 206. Number of Delta Plus cases: 60. Percentage of cases that were Delta Plus: 29.1

3. Aylesbury Vale

Number of tests sequenced: 171. Number of Delta Plus cases: 56. Percentage of cases that were Delta Plus: 32.7

4. Cheshire East

Number of tests sequenced: 335. Number of Delta Plus cases: 55. Percentage of cases that were Delta Plus: 16.4

5. Solihull

Number of tests sequenced: 194. Number of Delta Plus cases: 51. Percentage of cases that were Delta Plus: 26.3

6. Stockport

Number of tests sequenced: 277. Number of Delta Plus cases: 51. Percentage of cases that were Delta Plus: 18.4

7. Isle of Wight

Number of tests sequenced: 136. Number of Delta Plus cases: 46. Percentage of cases that were Delta Plus: 33.8

8. Milton Keynes

Number of tests sequenced: 174. Number of Delta Plus cases: 44. Percentage of cases that were Delta Plus: 25.3

9. Leeds

Number of tests sequenced: 545. Number of Delta Plus cases: 37. Percentage of cases that were Delta Plus: 6.8

10. Exeter

Number of tests sequenced: 81. Number of Delta Plus cases: 35. Percentage of cases that were Delta Plus: 43.2

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