Additional coronavirus testing is to be carried out in elements of Kensington, west London, following the invention of a small quantity of cases of the South African variant.
The Department of Health and Social Care mentioned the confirmed cases have been self-isolating and their contacts have been recognized.
It added the new cases weren’t linked to clusters of the variant (B.1.351) lately recognized in areas of south London.
The DHSC mentioned NHS Test and Trace was working in partnership with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to supply the additional testing in focused areas inside the W11 postcode in north Kensington.
Everybody aged 16 and over who lives or works in these areas is “strongly inspired” to take a Covid-19 PCR check, whether or not they’re exhibiting signs or not.
Enhanced contact tracing shall be used for people testing optimistic with a variant of concern.
By utilizing PCR testing, optimistic outcomes will be despatched for genomic sequencing at specialist laboratories, serving to to establish variant of concern cases and their unfold.
People with signs can e-book a free check on-line or by telephone to allow them to be examined at a testing web site or have a testing equipment despatched to them at house.
The DHSC added that folks in the focused space ought to use twice-weekly speedy testing alongside the PCR check as half of the elevated testing course of.
Last month surge testing services have been arrange in three south London boroughs – Lambeth, Wandsworth and Southwark – after clusters of the variant have been found.
A single case of the variant was additionally detected in Barnet, north London.
