Surge in testing as South African variant found in neighbouring county
A surge in testing is being deployed to help identify cases of the new strain
14:58, 1 FEB 2021
Updated (Image: Getty Images)
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Video report by ITV News Health Editor Emily Morgan
Quick Covid tests will be carried out door-to-door in parts of England after the South Africa variant of the virus was identified in positive tests.
Medics will reach out to 80,000 residents directly in parts of Surrey, London, Kent, Walsall, Southport and Hertfordshire in a bid to curb the variant’s spread.
Each resident visited will be requested to take a PCR Covid test – which can provide swift results on the same day – whether they have symptoms or not.
There have been 11 cases of the variant identified across England with no links to travel to South Africa.
South African variant of Covid found in eight areas of England msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Covid tests carried out door-to-door as South African mutant strain spreads across UK
Coronavirus teams will carry out urgent tests in parts of Surrey after it emerged that the South African strain of the virus - which has been worrying scientists - may have started spreading
13:57, 1 FEB 2021
Updated
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