90 schools have infection prevention teams tackling coronavirus cases in Cumbria

Ninety schools in Cumbria have infection prevention teams working on site due to coronavirus outbreaks.

Cumbria’s director of public health says that teams are working to support the schools to limit the spread and reduce the impact on staff, pupils and parents.

He said that in the majority of schools the number of cases was low.

There were 1,106 new cases in Cumbria in the week ending July 1, which is a rate per 100,000 of 221.2, slightly below the UK average of 244.3.

The county’s public health director, Colin Cox, said it was important that people remained cautious to reduce the risk of a mutation of the virus leading to variants resistant to the vaccines.

“I would encourage people as restrictions ease to limit the numbers they meet with, which is particularly important indoors,” he said.

“I would still encourage people to wear face masks in busy indoor areas and I will continue to be wearing my face mask.

“The thing about face masks is that it is not just about yourself, it is about other people and people who still feel vulnerable, particularly in areas where people have less chance to keep their distance, such as shops and public transport.”

Shift in attitudes

Mr Cox said he believed that people’s views on COVID-19 have now changed.

“It does feel to me as if society has started to shift its view on this,” he said.

“People up to now have been very happy generally to accept restrictions to save lives but now not so many people are being admitted to hospital and dying because of the success of vaccination.

“People are moving towards accepting some harm to reduce restrictions. That is the turning point we are at and the decision people have to make and the decision the Government has to make.

“I would say that it is really important that we try to keep COVID rates down.”

The most recent cases for the week ending July 1, accompanied with the rate per 100,000 in brackets, are as follows: