READERS have weighed in on coronavirus rules after a health boss gave a warning to follow guidelines.

This came as neighbouring areas in the North West are seeing increasing numbers of outbreaks involving the new Indian variant of the Covid virus and ‘surge testing’ implemented in affected communities.

Colin Cox, Cumbria’s Director of Public Health, said: “Covid infections in Cumbria remain very low, which is fantastic. But there is cause for some concern given what we are now seeing in other parts of the region with the spread of the new ‘Indian variant’.

“There are still a lot of unknowns about the Indian variant in terms of how it spreads and how effective our vaccines are, so it really is important that we don’t let it get a foothold in the county.”

This is what our readers had to say.

Liz Leech said: “If people aren’t capable by now of following the rules then they never will be and it won’t matter how many variants there end up being.

“Common sense is the only way to halt this before it becomes an issue again.”

Tina Brown said: “They’ve just said on news that England’s numbers are the lowest ever?”

Ash Howson said: “Vaccines are working, cases mean nothing. Why were still classing a handful of deaths as a pandemic is beyond me.

“More people now dying from other causes and over 4.5m people needing urgent medical care on the biggest waiting list since records began.”

Steven Patton said: “Where are these outbreaks and why are they happening.”

Karen Beecroft said: “Here we go again.”