Testing for South Africa Covid variant set to start in Herts

Hertfordshire County Council is urging all adult residents in the EN10 area of Broxbourne to have a Covid-19 test over the next two weeks amid confirmation that there has been one positive case of the variant in the local area.

The case has not been linked to travel. 

From Tuesday, February 2, residents who are over 18 years old and live in the ‘EN10’ postcode will be provided with a leaflet through their letterboxes to explain how they can get tested.

From Thursday February 4, all households will be directly contacted at their doorstep and will be provided with a home testing kit from a public health or licensed officer (with hi-visibility uniform or valid ID).

The main aim of this increase in testing capacity is to find any other cases and help to suppress this new variant from spreading any further in the local community.

What has been set-up in Broxbourne?

Extra mobile testing capacity has been set up at the Broxbourne Lido site & Paradise Wildlife Park (in EN10, Broxbourne) and from Tuesday, February 2, home testing kits will also be available to pick up from Wormley Community Centre and Hoddesdon Library.

People are being urged to get a test whether they have symptoms of the virus or not.

Jim McManus, Director of Public Health at Hertfordshire County Council, said: “It is vitally important that we test as many adults in this local area, whether showing symptoms or not. This is an important step in containing this new South African variant of COVID-19 from spreading further in our local communities.

“Although this new variant of COVID-19 is thought to be more easily transmitted, there is currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe illness, or that the regulated vaccine would not protect against it.”

Lewis Cocking, Leader of Broxbourne Council, said: “Testing plays an important role in stopping the spread of the virus. Testing, even when you do not have symptoms, helps identify people with the virus so that they can isolate and avoid spreading it to others in the community.

“I don’t want people to be alarmed at this new development. It is an isolated case but I am urging all members of the public that live in the EN10 postcode area, who are not showing symptoms, to either book an appointment online or use a home testing kit.”

What is the situation in England?

Across England, experts are seeking to urgently test 80,000 people for Covid-19 after it emerged that the South African strain of the virus may have spread in some regions.

Health officials said 11 people had been identified over the last five or six days who have tested positive for the variant, but who have no links to travel.

The South African variant is thought to be as transmissible as the variant that was first identified in Kent but there is no evidence as yet that it causes more severe disease.

Mobile testing units and some home testing kits are being sent into eight postcode areas of London, the West Midlands, East of England, South East and the North West.

The areas are: Hanwell, west London; Tottenham, north London; Mitcham, south London; Walsall in the West Midlands; Broxbourne, Hertfordshire; Maidstone, Kent; Woking, Surrey; and Southport, Merseyside.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “It is vital that we do all we can to stop transmission of this variant and I strongly urge everyone in these areas to get tested, whether you have symptoms or not.

“The best way to stop the spread of the virus – including new variants – is to stay at home and follow the restrictions in place. Until more people are vaccinated this is the only way we will control the spread of the virus.

“The UK is a global leader in Covid-19 genomics and, because of this, we have been able to identify new strains of the virus and take decisive action.

“We continue to closely monitor new variants, here and around the world, and in addition to our already extensive testing service, we are making surge-testing capacity available to affected areas.”