Professor Tim Spector, who runs the country's largest symptom-tracking study, suggested No10's strict travel rules had led to increased mixing and spreading in Cornwall
Covid infections are rising in Cornwall because of the thousands of Britons who have flocked to the coast for a staycation over half-term, a top expert claimed today.
Professor Tim Spector, who runs the country's largest symptom-tracking study, suggested No10's strict travel rules had led to increased mixing and spreading in the seaside county.
Latest Government data shows that 147.8 people per 100,000 tested positive for the virus in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the week leading up to June 18.
This is up from 60.7 people per 100,000 who caught Covid in the week leading up to June 11. Despite the hike in case numbers, no deaths have been recorded in region since May 28.
Professor Spector said Cornwall's climbing infection rates may also be due to the G7 summit earlier this month, which saw crowds gather to welcome the leaders of world's leading democracies.
But the King's College London epidemiologist revealed the number of people falling ill in Scotland, another popular staycation destination, were finally plateauing.
His study showed there were 3,716 new symptomatic cases in Scotland every day last week, the equivalent of one in 121 people. This is higher than last week but marks a slowdown in the speed of the outbreak north of the border.
Infection rates in Scotland have been rising faster than the rest of the UK due to outbreaks of the highly infectious Indian variant in the country's central belt.
The King's College London study also found that case rates in the North West of England, another hotspot for the Indian 'Delta' variant', were flatlining.
There are 3,984 symptomatic people testing positive every day in the region last week, which is the equivalent of around one in 131 individuals.
Similar to Scotland, cases are continuing to rise in the region, but at a slower rate, according to the data.
Professor Spector and his team believe the UK's R rate has fallen to 1.1 in the past week, down from 1.2 - the lowest it has been since the third wave started in April.
The UK is now recording 19,122 cases each day, which equates to 1 in 264 people, according to the ZOE Covid symptom study. The data shows that around 15,099 of these cases are in unvaccinated people, while 4,023 are in people who have had the vaccine
The researchers estimate that there are currently 15,099 new symptomatic cases of Covid in unvaccinated people in the UK, compared to 4,023 in vaccinated. This gives a total of 19,122 new cases every day
Data from the ZOE study shows that cases are continuing to rise across the country, but the number of new cases in Scotland (brown line) and the North West (purple line) show that cases are beginning to even out
The researchers also found that cases are proportionately at the highest among those aged between 20 and 29, with over 1,100 people per 100,000 testing positive (orange line). This is followed by those aged under 19, where around 500 individuals per 100,000 testing positive (blue line)
Professor Spector said: 'Data this week shows rates in former hotspots, such as Scotland and the North West of England, continuing to plateau.
'At the same time, top UK holiday destinations like Cornwall are emerging as new areas with rapidly increasing cases.
'I think this is down to a number of factors, including the sudden influx of holidaymakers over half term, as well as the recent G7 summit and a previously unexposed local population.
'We need to remain vigilant of these UK holiday destinations as summer holidays approach, and ensure that we minimise outbreaks by following government guidelines.'
Despite the positive findings, the true state of the situation in the UK remains a mixed picture, with daily infections yesterday hitting a four-month high of 16,135.
Health chiefs blamed the massive increase on surge-testing being carried out in Scotland, which saw its biggest case-load since the public swabbing blitz began.
The data shows that people who have not had the vaccine are most likley to catch the virus (red line), while those who have had both doses are the most protected (orange line)
