Public health chief reassures residents after case of Indian variant found at school HAMPSHIRE County Council has reassured residents after a case of the Indian variant of Covid-19 was found at a primary school in Winchester. St Bede, in Gordon Road, was notified by Public Health England of a single positive case of the variant at the school. Those who had been in close contact with the person who tested positive were asked to self-isolate and were offered testing. Now, the county council, who is charge of public health for Hampshire, has tried to reassure people about the variant and the case in Winchester.
Traffic expected this weekend with visitors asked to observe rules. PEOPLE have been asked to continue observing the rules as travel chaos is expected over the bank holiday weekend. As Covid restrictions have now been eased and with an extra day off for many, Hampshire s roads are expected to be chaotic as people head out on their bank holiday getaways. Motorists are being urged to expect delays and now councils have reminded people venturing out over the weekend to still observe the rules. In Southampton, people are being advised to consider walking, cycling or trying the new rental e-scooters in the city to avoid congestion.
A POSITIVE cases of the South African variant of COVID-19 has been found in Hampshire. Hampshire County Council has today confirmed that a case of the variant (VUI – 202012/01) has been located in the Bramley area, north of Basingstoke. The South African strain is not believed to be more deadly than the initial strain, but it is known to spread more quickly than the initial strain. All viruses mutate over time and new variants emerge regularly. There is currently no evidence to suggest that the Pfizer vaccine would not protect people against the new variant. Simon Bryant, Director of Public Health at Hampshire County Council said: “I appreciate that this news may be worrying for the local community, but it’s really important to understand that the risk of transmission from this single case is considered to be very low, helped by the fact that national restrictions are in place with most people staying at home and adhering to the Government guidance of ‘
This is the first case of South African variant being detected in the entire Hampshire region. All residents in the area where the case is detected will be contacted soon for testing, Hampshire County Council has confirmed. The local testing initiative will involve all residents over the age of 16 in the identified area being asked to undertake a Covid-19 test. The council said the details of how this would work will be published on the County Council’s website early next week. Residents will be able to use a postcode checker to identify whether or not they will be provided with a test.