Additional testing is being made available in locations where the COVID-19 variant first identified in South Africa has been found, to help monitor and suppress it, while enabling a better understanding of the new variant.

The variant has been identified in a small number people that cannot be traced back to international travel. All cases are now self-isolating and robust contact tracing has taken place to trace their contacts and ask them to self-isolate.

The areas identified are East of England (EN10); London (W7, N17, CR4); North West (PR9); South East (ME15, GU21); West Midlands (WS2).

Every person over 16 living in these locations is being strongly encouraged to take a COVID test whether they are showing symptoms or not. Mobile testing units (MTUs) will be deployed offering PCR testing to people without symptoms who have to leave their home for work or essential reasons, with local authorities encouraging people to get tested in the area by providing additional home test kits.

People with symptoms should book a test in the usual way and people without symptoms should visit their local authority website for more information. This additional testing will begin in these areas from Monday.

Positive tests will be sequenced to identify any further spread of the COVID-19 variant first identified in South Africa, enabling a better understanding of the variant and identifying if there are any more cases of this particular strand of the virus in the area.

In total, Public Health England has identified 105 cases of the COVID-19 variant first identified in South Africa since 22 December. All cases and their contacts have been contacted and told to self-isolate. There is currently no evidence to suggest this variant is more serious than others, or that the regulated vaccine would not protect against it.