Surge testing is to be deployed throughout components of east London after a number of instances of the South African and Brazilian Covid-19 variants have been detected, well being leaders have mentioned.
Both have been designated variants of concern by well being specialists.
There isn’t any proof both of the variants make folks extra unwell, however they’re thought to be extra transmissible than the variant in the UK on the very begin of the coronavirus outbreak.
Current vaccines have been designed round earlier variations of coronavirus, however scientists imagine they need to nonetheless work, though maybe not fairly as nicely, in opposition to these variants.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) mentioned that NHS check and Trace was working with Tower Hamlets Council to present extra testing and genomic sequencing in focused areas throughout the E1 postcode from Sunday.
It follows the identification of “a number of” confirmed instances of the variant B.1.351, first seen in South Africa, and the P1 variant, first recognized in Brazil.
The division mentioned all of the confirmed instances have been self-isolating and there have been no hyperlinks between the brand new instances and the cluster of instances not too long ago recognized in the south London space.
Everyone aged 11 and over who lives, works or is educated in these postcodes is being inspired to take a check when invited, whether or not they’re displaying signs or not, the DHSC mentioned.
The announcement comes as the federal government mentioned a additional seven folks had died inside 28 days of testing optimistic for Covid-19 as of Saturday, bringing the UK whole to 127,524.
Separate figures printed by the UK’s statistics companies present there have been 152,000 deaths registered in the UK the place Covid-19 was talked about on the loss of life certificates.
Listen to Coronavirus: What You Need To Know – ITV News’ Covid-19 podcast
