Gateshead's public health director says people should be extra vigilant in the face of new variants of Covid-19.

In recent days, cases of the so-called Indian variant have been discovered in Newcastle and North Tyneside.

A total of 19 cases have been detected across north-east England, three were said to be travel-related but no further information has been provided on where the cases are.

Alice Wiseman (pictured) says the problem is being closely monitored and the public need to be cautious in the days ahead.

"We're working together across local authorities to make sure we have that broader understanding of where those cases are because we know that our communities live, work and go to school in many different areas, so it's important we work collectively on that," she said.

"Whilst the numbers aren't high at the moment we have seen other parts of the country where cases have risen rapidly so we are watching them."

The finishing touches are being carried out at museums across the North East as they prepare for re-opening next week.

The venues, which would normally attract hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, have been closed for months due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The Discovery Museum in Newcastle has been carrying out final checks before it welcomes people back on Monday.

Facilities manager Nick Butterley said: "We can't wait, there's something very sad about seeing the place empty.

"We know how much people enjoy it and how much families enjoy the museum and it won't be quite the same as there's not all the things out that people expect.

"But I think people understand that we have to keep some exhibits tucked away for now."

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A cat found dumped in a toy box outside a garage in Hartlepool is waiting to be rehomed by the RSPCA.

The black and white tomcat was discovered soaking wet and crying loudly by parents and staff from a nearby dance studio outside Stranton garage in Waldon Street on Saturday.

Inspector Clare Wilson said: "It appears whoever owned him decided they didn’t want him anymore so put him in a toy box which was dumped in the street."

Image source, RSPCA

The cat - who has been named Billy Elliot because of the nearby dance studio - was in good health but had not been micro-chipped so his owner cannot be traced.

“It is lucky that he was found by kind people before anything happened to him. It has been very cold and wet in the last few days and he was very distressed," Ms Wilson added.

Billy is being looked after by the RSPCA in Great Ayton until a new owner can be found for him.

Image source, RSPCA

Durham's public health boss is advising people to take it "one step at a time" as lockdown restrictions are further eased next week.

From Monday, people will be able to hug and socialise indoors, more businesses - such as cinemas, theatres and bingo halls - can reopen and pubs and restaurants can serve customers indoors.

County Durham's director of public health Amanda Healy said: "There'll always be variants and we do just need to be cautious, that's why we'll be encouraging people to test regularly and the really important thing is for people to take up the vaccine.

"But also have some enjoyment - venues have worked incredibly hard, whether it's a gym, cinema or restaurant to welcome people back in as safe a way as possible."

Image source, Getty Images

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Daniel Holland
Local Democracy Reporter

There have been 19 cases of the so-called Indian variant of Covid-19 detected across the North East – although health bosses say the numbers here remain the lowest of anywhere in England.

Three of the cases were travel-related, but no further information has been provided on where the 19 cases are.

The number covers all of Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton, Hartlepool, and Darlington.

Earlier this week, North Tyneside Council confirmed that at least eight Covid cases had been linked to an outbreak among staff at the Allard’s Lounge bar in Tynemouth.

Newcastle City Council also confirmed the strain had been detected in the city, but declined to say when or where it had been found.

Image source, Getty Images

Public Health England said there was “currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe illness, increased risk of mortality or makes the current vaccines any less effective”.

Prof Peter Kelly, regional director of Public Health England North East, said: “We are not seeing many cases of the Indian variant of concern in the North East compared to other parts of the country; however, we must not be complacent with this or any other variant."

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Another large vaccination centre has opened in the region.

It's at Hexham Mart and will be able to vaccinate up to 800 people a day and is open from 08:00 to 20:00.

Northumberland's director of public heath, Liz Morgan, said: "People living in our rural communities have opted not to go to the Centre for Life in Newcastle, preferring to wait for their GP to contact them because for many people it's a long way for them to travel and not everyone has a car, so being able to provide access like this is a really important step forward."

Among the first people receiving the vaccine was Helen Anderson (pictured above) who's seven months pregnant with her third child, and said it was good to get the jab close to home: "You can fit it into how your life works with school runs and it cuts down on the travel time, so it's much better to be local."

There are eight other mass vaccination centres in operation across the North East and Cumbria, at Nightingale Centres, football grounds, sports and shopping centres, as well as at Penrith auction mart.

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