MORE than 200 further cases of the Delta variant of coronavirus have been recorded in Brighton and Hove, new figures reveal.

Public Health England data shows 289 cases of the Delta variant had been recorded in the city by Wednesday, June 16 – up by 213 on the 76 cases recorded last week.

Those identified in the latest figures were among at least 6,638 cases of the variant recorded across the South East – the third-worst affected of England's nine regions.

It comes after Brighton and Hove's director of Public Health, Alistair Hill, warned residents to keep to safety guidelines and said "too many people are relaxing too soon" after the number of weekly Covid-19 cases rose by 160 per cent in the seven days up to Friday, June 10, compared with the previous week.

Mr Hill urged the everyone in the city to make the Covid safety guidelines and regular symptom-free testing part of their routine.

The Argus:

He said: "The vaccination programme is making a real impact, but at the same time too many people are relaxing too soon and forgetting the Covid safety guidelines.

“The Covid virus spreads in particles on our breath when we speak, cough and laugh.

"That’s why keeping up the ‘hands, face, space, fresh air’ guidelines when you’re with other people is so important – both inside and outdoors."

In the latest data given for the seven days up to Sunday, June 13, the rate of infection in the city stood at 85.9 - significantly higher than England's average, at 75.2 per 100,000 people.

The latest figures released by Public Health England today show 59 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed in the city as of 9am this morning, bringing the total number of people who have tested positive to 15,271.

While the Delta variant carries a higher risk of hospitalisation than the Alpha – formerly known as the Kent – variant, analysis shows that two doses of a coronavirus jab offer about 90 per cent protection against hospitalisation.

The Argus:

The most recent data shows 99 per cent of coronavirus cases across the country are the Delta variant, first identified in India.

With cases of the Delta strain rising rapidly, vaccinations have opened up to all adults in the country in an effort to limit its spread.

Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive at the UK Health Security Agency said: "It is encouraging to see that hospitalisations and deaths are not rising at the same rate but we will continue to monitor it closely.

"The vaccination programme and the care that we are all taking to follow the guidance are continuing to save lives.

"Please make sure that you come forward to receive both doses of the vaccine as soon as you are eligible.

"Don’t drop your guard – practise ‘hands, face, space, fresh air’ at all times."