Working in partnership with the native authority, NHS Test and Trace is offering further testing and genomic sequencing in a focused space inside SE16 in Southwark the place a further confirmed case of the variant first recognized in South Africa has been discovered.
Genomic sequencing outcomes point out that this case is linked to the cluster recognized in Lambeth and Wandsworth. The confirmed case is self-isolating and their contacts have been recognized.
This focused method will contact sure households in Southwark, due to decrease confirmed case numbers. These households will both get a leaflet asking them to get a check from a specifically deployed cell testing unit, or be requested to full a house equipment by a door-to-door crew. Everybody aged 11 years and over in this space who’s contacted and invited to participate is strongly inspired to take a COVID-19 PCR check, whether or not they’re displaying signs or not.
Enhanced contact tracing is used for people testing constructive with a variant of concern. This is the place contact tracers look again over an prolonged interval in order to decide the route of transmission.
By utilizing PCR testing, constructive outcomes can be despatched for genomic sequencing at specialist laboratories, serving to us to establish variant of concern instances and their unfold. People in this space ought to proceed utilizing twice-weekly speedy testing alongside the PCR check as a part of surge testing.
People with signs ought to ebook a free check on-line or by telephone to allow them to get examined at a testing website or have a testing equipment despatched to them at residence. Those with out signs ought to go to the native authority web site for extra data: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/
Dr Kevin Fenton, Regional Director, PHE London and Regional Director of Public Health, NHS London:
The cluster of instances in elements of South London – predominantly the Lambeth and Wandsworth areas but additionally in Southwark – of the variant first recognized in South Africa is critical. It’s actually necessary folks in the native space play their half in stopping any additional unfold inside the local people.
PCR testing is now obtainable for all and I’d strongly encourage everybody in Southwark who’s invited to participate to get examined, even when they don’t have any signs of coronavirus.
Around 1 in 3 folks with COVID-19 don’t present any signs. By participating you may shield yourselves and your family members and assist us establish any potential new instances that will in any other case be missed, stopping additional transmission and saving lives.
