Health boss: Colin Cox CARLISLE still has the county’s highest Covid-19 infection rate - though the more virulent new variant of the virus is fuelling a surge in cases across Cumbria. Colin Cox, the county’s Director of Public Health, says the new strain is probably responsible for at least 75 per cent of cases in Carlisle and west Cumbria. In South Lakeland, the variant is being blamed for at least half the cases. “We’re seeing the impact of Christmas feeding through and we will also then see the impact of the New Year,” said Mr Cox. In Carlisle, the current infection rate per 100,000 of population is just above 1,100.