Surge Covid tests deployed in NEW areas of London to halt spread of South African variant

SURGE testing has been deployed in parts of London to stop the spread of the South Africa Covid variant.

More cases of the mutated virus have been found in Southwark (SE5) and Harrow (HA2 and HA3).

People living in these spots should get a Covid test when they are offered it - regardless of if they have symptoms.

Anyone who has symptoms should book a free test online or by phone to get tested at a testing site or have a testing kit sent to them at home.

So far 318 cases are thought to have been found in the UK, with eight new discoveries found recently.

A Department of Health statement said: "The increased testing is being introduced in addition to existing extensive testing and, in combination with the public following current lockdown rules and Hands Face Space advice, will help to monitor and suppress the spread of the virus.

It comes as:

• A third wave of Covid cases will hit in Autumn warns stats chief
• Over-40s could be offered Covid jab before Easter
• Netherlands joins AstraZeneca Covid vaccine suspension - but Oxford scientists say ‘no link’ to blood clots
• Italy plunges into another lockdown and Paris evacuates Covid patients on planes

"Positive cases will be sequenced for genomic data to help increase our understanding of Covid-19 variants and their spread within these areas.

"Enhanced contact tracing will be used for individuals testing positive with a variant of concern. 

"This is where contact tracers look back over an extended period in order to determine the route of transmission."

Health officials said mass testing would help it to closely monitor any community spread of the new variant, and restrict further transmission.

VARIANT FEARS

Testing doesn't currently detect whether someone has the South African strain but they will be sent to the lab to be sequenced to identify any more cases of the particular strand in the area.

Scientists have warned the mutation, named 501YV2, is feared to be at least 50 per cent more contagious, with hundreds more undetected cases thought to be in the country.

Andrew Hayward, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at University College London and a member of SAGE, said: "This variant is identified through genetic sequencing and we sequence between five per cent and 10 per cent of all cases, so you can immediately tell from that that we have a big under-estimation of the number of cases.

"We would expect we're seeing the tip of the iceberg of community transmission."

There is not yet any evidence to suggest that symptoms differ from the three Covid-19 symptoms already highlighted by the NHS.

The three main coronavirus symptoms are a new persistent cough, a high temperature and a loss of taste and smell (anosmia).

If you have any of these symptoms then you should isolate immediately and get a test.