A NEW variant of coronavirus that is causing concern among officials has not yet been detected in Cumbria - but cases have been confirmed in neighbouring Lancashire.

Health bosses are currently investigating whether the variant, first found in India, spreads more easily and evades vaccines.

More than 70 cases have been identified in England and Scotland.

Cumbria County Council's Colin Cox, the county's director of public health, explained why the new variant is causing concern.

He said: "It's similar to all the others that we have seen, the concern being there's some mutations on the spike protein which could have some impact on the vaccines or make it more transmissible.

"We don't know that yet - it's not confirmed.

"We have not detected it in Cumbria so far, so there's no indication that there's a problem - but clearly it's in the country, there's always a risk.

"I think people need to do the same control measures, it's still important that people are keeping to social distancing and the restrictions.

"People are enjoying the easing of lockdown, but it's really important to stick to these regulations."

Dr Cox also discussed the current levels of Covid cases in Cumbria - but added that it is still too soon to see the effects of easing lockdown, one week one.

He continued: "Cases are pretty stable, they've been sitting at round about the same level for a month, a relatively low level.

"It's too early to tell whether the easing of lockdown a week ago has had an effect. We would expect to see anything out of that in the next week or so.

"Last summer, we had a couple of months of pretty low levels before things started to rise again. It's different now because the schools were out before, but are back in now - but we didn't have vaccinations then."

On vaccines, Dr Cox said Cumbria remains on track - but the rate has slowed in recent weeks.

He added: "Vaccinations are still good. We've got 280,000 people across Cumbria.

"It's slowed down, we knew that would happen because there's a lower supply coming into the country.

"We've been prioritising people for their second dose, which gives you a longer immunity.

"Things are where we would expect them to be."