Residents in a part of southern England are to be urgently tested for Covid-19 after it emerged the South African strain of the virus may have started spreading in the community.
Two positive cases of the strain – which has been worrying scientists – have been identified in people with no links to travel or previous contact with those affected.
So far, 105 cases of the strain have been identified to date across the UK, but this is the first sign of wider community spread.
Some of the vaccines in use and currently going through approval have shown some effectiveness against the variant.
Surrey County Council said the Surrey Local Resilience Forum is working with Public Health England (PHE) and the Department of Health to carry out a localised “surge testing” programme in the Goldsworth Park and St Johns areas of Woking.
Residents within the affected areas will be asked to carry out a test even if they have no symptoms.
The council said in a statement: “This will enable us, working closely with PHE, NHS Test & Trace and the Joint Biosecurity Centre to closely monitor any community spread of the new variant, and restrict further transmission.”
A similar surveillance exercise is expected to extend into an area of Egham in the county.
There is currently no evidence that the variant causes more severe illness.
'Precautionary measure'
Ruth Hutchinson, director of public health for Surrey, said: “This is a precautionary measure – the more cases of the variant we find, the better chance we have at stopping it from spreading further.
“By playing your part and taking the test, you’ll be helping to keep your community and your loved ones safe.
“It’s really important to say that there is currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe illness, so you don’t need to worry.”
Dr Alison Barnett, regional director at Public Health England South East, said: “The UK has one of the best genomic systems in the world which has allowed us to detect the variant originating in South Africa here in Surrey.
“I urge everyone offered a test to take it up to help us to monitor the virus in our communities and to help suppress and control the spread of this variant.”
It comes as Boris Johnson played down fears about vaccines being ineffective against different variants.
During a visit to the Al Hikmah vaccination centre in Batley, West Yorkshire, the British prime minister told reporters: “We are confident that all the vaccines that we are using provide a high degree of immunity and protection against all variants.”
He said the vaccines could be adapted to deal with new variants if necessary.
Mr Johnson said there were signs lockdown measures in England were working but it was too early to “take your foot off the throat of the beast” by easing restrictions.
