DOZENS more cases of the Delta variant of coronavirus have been recorded in Braintree over the last week, figures reveal.
Public Health England figures show 99 cases of the Delta variant – first identified in India – had been recorded in Braintree by July 7.
That was 31 more than the 68 cases recorded the week before.
Those identified in the latest week were among 8,593 cases of the variant recorded across the East of England – the least affected of England's nine regions.
Across the UK, 54,268 more cases were recorded in the last week to reach a total of 216,249 – a 34 per cent increase.
PHE said the Delta variant currently accounts for around 99 per cent of cases that are sequenced in the UK.
Different PHE figures show that up to June 21, the majority of people admitted to hospital with the Delta variant in England were unvaccinated – around three-quarters of those under 50, and a third of those aged 50 and above.
As of June 21, there had been 257 deaths in England of people who were confirmed as having this strain of coronavirus and who died within 28 days of a positive test.
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