New virus 'likely' to be in region already
| Date | 22 December 2020 |
| Published date | 22 December 2020 |
| Publication title | Evening Chronicle |
The experts also warned people not to spend Christmas Day with anyone who has travelled from a Tier 4 area.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the new strain of Covid, which is more transmissible than previous kinds, was thought to be behind surging infection rates in the South East of England and imposed a tougher tier of measures on London and surrounding areas.
However, North East councils stopped short yesterday of following Greater Manchester and the West Midlands in telling people to selfisolate for a minimum of 10 days if they have travelled back here from the capital, large parts of the South East, or Wales.
The advice was issued by the public health directors for County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, and Sunderland - Amanda Healy, Alice Wiseman, Eugene Milne, Liz Morgan, Wendy
Burke, Tom Hall, and Gerry Taylor.
They said: "This weekend has seen our focus move to a new strain of coronavirus which is being transmitted at an even faster rate than the original Covid-19 disease and we ask everyone to be extra careful over social distancing, social contacts and general hygiene over the festive period.
"While there is no clear evidence that the new strain is yet spreading in the North East as it is in Kent and the South East, it is very likely already to be present.
This seen move strain LA7 "It is important to remember that Covid-19 continues to be a potent threat in its original form and so this latest variant needs to be tackled in exactly the same way, with anyone who has travelled from a Tier 4 area being particularly vigilant to protect their loved ones.
"It is why we urge everyone to double down on what they have been doing so far to drive the infection rate down. Following good hand hygiene at all times, wearing face coverings when required to do so, taking extra care over social distancing - staying at least two metres apart - keeping all social contact to a minimum and staying in well-ventilated places.
"We should all act as if we have got the virus to protect ourselves, our families and our communities...
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