Cumbrian health boss has admitted cases of covid are still on the rise and he expects this to continue.

As the Delta virus continues to spread the county has started mass testing to help get on top of the spread.

Cumbria is now one of just two areas in the country to introduce surge testing, where everyone aged between 12 and 30 are being asked to go and have a Covid-19 test so the county can manage any cases they find.

Direct for public health in Cumbria, Colin Cox said: "It is still rising [the delta variant] not as fast but I would expect it to go up with mass testing.

"From what I can see people are embracing it and taking up the opportunity to have the test."

School pupils will all now have to wear face masks in all communal areas as the people impacted by the new variant are mainly younger people who have not been vaccinated.

“We cannot afford to waste any vaccine and if you don’t cancel or reschedule it could mean a vaccine is wasted,” added Mr Cox.

The measures he said, coupled with the surge testing, would hopefully stop the virus in its tracks.

He said: “We have advised school pupils to wear masks in school as we’re seeing growth in the Delta variant.

“We want to slow it down. We want everyone aged between 12 and 30 to go and get a test.”

The public health boss hoped that by doing this, they would be able to find all the positive cases and therefore stop the virus from spreading.

He continued: “We will be opening testing sites for walk-in appointments and these will be open between eight in the morning and eight at night.

“We are also trying to speed up the vaccine programme. As more people will be getting tested, I predict we will see a spike in cases but that would be expected.”

Mr Cox is urging everyone between 12 and 30 to head to the centres and have a test as soon as possible, whether they have symptoms or not.

As the vaccine programme is ramped up to include even more people, Mr Cox is continuing to plead with people to keep their appointments.

He said: “If people are missing their appointments it’s a serious concern. If you’re not able to make it cancel and rearrange.

“We need to get ahead of the Delta variant. As long as you have had both injections it’s okay but you need to get the second one to have the best protection."