Public Health England's weekly coronavirus (Covid-19) variant cases data has shown that cases of the Delta variant in the UK have risen by 5,472 since last week to 12,431.

With a case breakdown for the South West, it confirms that 15 cases have been recorded in Wiltshire.

Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive, UK Health Security Agency, said: "With this variant now dominant across the UK, it remains vital that we all continue to exercise as much caution as possible."

Only Bristol, Gloucester, South Gloucestershire and Swindon have reported more.

Confirmed cases

Bath and North East Somerset: 

<5

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: 

<5

Bristol, City of:

59

Cheltenham:

<5

Cornwall:

<5

Exeter:

5

Forest of Dean:

<5

Gloucester:

16

Mendip:

<5

North Somerset:

<5

Plymouth:

<5

Somerset West and Taunton:

<5

South Gloucestershire:

20

Stroud:

5

Swindon:

39

Teignbridge:

<5

Torbay:

<5

Wiltshire:

15

Early evidence suggests there may be an increased risk of hospitalisation for Delta compared to Alpha, although more data is needed for Public Health England to have more confidence in that finding.

Although there is some regional variation, PHE experts now believe that the variant has overtaken Alpha as the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in the UK.

Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive, UK Health Security Agency, said: "With this variant now dominant across the UK, it remains vital that we all continue to exercise as much caution as possible. The way to tackle variants is to tackle the transmission of COVID-19 as a whole. Work from home where you can, and practice ‘hands, face, space, fresh air’ at all times.

"If you are eligible and have not already done so, please come forward to be vaccinated and make sure you get your second jab. It will save lives."

Earlier this week, Wiltshire Council said staff were working hard to contain the spread of the variant.

This week, 278 people with the Delta variant attended A&E, resulting in 94 people being admitted to hospital overnight. Last week, 201 people attended A&E, with 43 admissions. Once again, the majority of these had not been vaccinated.

Dr Harries added: "The way to tackle variants is to tackle the transmission of COVID-19 as a whole. Work from home where you can, and practice ‘hands, face, space, fresh air’ at all times.

The most affected areas remain Bolton, where cases have risen by 795 to 2149, and Blackburn with Darwen which has seen 368 new cases, bringing it to 724 in total. 

PHE has also published a breakdown of outbreaks and clusters of variants in schools and other settings.

Outbreaks and clusters in primary and secondary schools are at low levels but we have seen a slight increase over recent weeks, in line with higher levels of the Delta variant circulating in the community.

The latest PHE data suggest that there have been 97 confirmed Covid-19 outbreaks in primary and secondary schools that have had at least one variant case linked to them over the most recent four-week period. This represents around one in 250 schools.

PHE’s health protection teams continue to work with local authorities and schools to carry out surveillance of Covid-19 cases in schools to understand and reduce transmission in these settings.