People in four new areas of west London are being urged to take coronavirus tests after cases of the Indian variant were discovered in the capital.
Surge testing is being rolled out in targeted settings and postcodes within Harrow, Ealing, Hillingdon and Brent from today, public health officials announced.
NHS Test and Trace is providing additional testing and genomic sequencing in education settings and targeted areas across the four boroughs, following the identification of the B1617.2 strain.
Local authorities will shortly confirm the areas where additional testing will be offered within the boroughs.
The cases found have been instructed to self-isolate and their contacts are being identified.
Everyone who lives, works or studies in the targeted areas and settings,
including children, are being strongly encouraged to take a PCR test, whether they are showing symptoms or not.
A Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announcement for residences of the borough advised: "f you have symptoms you should book a free test online or by phone so you can be tested at a testing site or have a testing kit sent to your home.
"If you have no symptoms, you should visit your local council’s website for more information.
I"n tandem with increased testing, enhanced contact tracing will be used for individuals testing positive with a variant of concern.
"This is where contact tracers look back over an extended period to determine the route of transmission."
The latest surge testing round in the capital follows targeted operations in recent months as health authorities worked to stamp out the South African variant.
Some residents in postcodes in postcodes in the boroughs of Lambeth and Redbridge were urged to get tested after the strain was discovered.
Cases were also identified in Acton, Greenford, Southall and West Ealing, leading to surge testing in February.
The DHSC said this week most cases of the new Indian variant remain predominantly in the north west of England, with some in London.
Matt Hancock told the House of Commons this week the strain was becoming dominant in some new Covid hotspots.
Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen and Bedford are battling spikes in infection rates.
Some areas have begun offering vaccines to over-18s in a bid to curb outbreaks.
The national rollout today moved on to people in their early-30s, as the NHS confirmed 32 and 33-year-olds are now able to book jab appointments.
