COVID cases have surged by 105 per cent as cases of the Indian Variant were reported in the county.

The figures state there were 41 new cases in the county, an increase of 21 from the previous week where the numbers stood at 20.

South Lakeland had the greatest number of new cases, with 14 new ones reported.

Copeland replaced Barrow in having the highest rate of new cases with 15 per 100,000 of population.

However, rates in all Cumbrian districts were below both the national and regional average rates which stands at 21 and 37 new cases per 100,000 population respectively.

New cases increased from the previous week in all Cumbrian districts except Carlisle.

The 12 to 18-year-old age group accounted for the greatest number of new cases in Cumbria with 11 new cases.

This was followed by the 19 to 24-year-old and 30-39-year-old age groups, both of which reported eight cases.

The report states that “notably, for the third week in a row, there were no new cases in the 70 to 79-year-old and 0 to 4 -year-old age groups”.

There were also no new cases in the 60-69 age group but there were five new cases in the 80-years-old and over age group following a fortnight of no cases being reported.

No Covid related deaths were reported in the week to May 7, which are the latest figures.

On May 17 fewer than 10 cases of the Indian Variant in the county were reported.

The increase has been outlined in The Cumbria Health Protection Tactical Oversight Group summary for the week ending May 14.

It was published by the The Cumbria Local Resilience Forum which consists of organisations and agencies involved in emergency responses.