SURGE testing has started in parts of west London in targeted settings within Harrow, Ealing, Hillingdon and Brent - following confirmed cases of the new variant, first found in India.
Britain reported on Sunday (23), 2,235 more cases of Covid-19 and five further deaths within 28 days of a positive test, official data showed.
The total number of people to have received a first vaccine dose reached 37,943,681, the data also said.
Working in partnership with the local authorities, NHS Test and Trace is providing additional testing and genomic sequencing in education settings and targeted areas across the four boroughs. Testing will be deployed in different ways in each borough in order to meet local needs.
Moreover, to curb the spread of the virus, local authorities would confirm the boroughs where additional testing will be offered, and reach out directly to residents to ensure people come forward for testing to stop the spread of the virus.
The people living in the targeted areas and settings, including children, are being strongly encouraged to take a RT-PCR test, also with no symptoms. The positive results can also be sent for genomic sequencing at specialist laboratories, to identify variant of concern (VOC) and its spread.
People across the country are encouraged to take up the offer of twice-weekly free rapid testing, alongside the RT-PCR test as part of surge testing. The government and its scientific experts are monitoring the evolving situation and rates of variants closely.
The appointments for a second Covid-19 vaccine dose will be brought forward from 12 to 8 weeks for the remaining people in the top nine priority groups. This would ensure people across the UK have the strongest possible protection from the virus at an earlier opportunity.
The move follows updated advice from the independent experts at the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which has considered the latest available evidence and has recommended reducing the dosing interval.
Sudha Murty and her husband Narayana Murthy with their daughter Akshata, son Rohan and her sister Dr Sunanda Kulkarni
Rishi Sunak’s parents Usha and Yashvir Sunak
A street vendor looks at his smartphone on April 27, 2024 in Bengaluru, India. (Photo by Valeria Mongelli/Getty Images)
