Students at a school in Essex are being tested for the new Omicron variant, the region’s top public health official has said.
Essex director of public health Dr Michael Gogarty told BBC Breakfast: “What we’re doing is we’re throwing the net very wide in terms of requesting people who attended these places at the particular times to get tested as soon as possible.
“Within the school we are actually excluding one school group as close contacts, but with the rest of the school group we would wish them to get tested and we are arranging for that testing to happen.
“Some sought it yesterday, and the rest will happen today.”
A number of sites in Essex visited by a person infected with the Omicron variant are being targeted for testing, the region’s top public health official has said.
Dr Gogarty told BBC Breakfast: “There are a number of sites we are looking at where these people had contact (with the infected person).
“One you would be aware of is the KFC in Brentwood.
“There’s also a faith setting and a school setting.”
The person infected with the Omicron variant in Essex is “well” and isolating with their family.
Dr Gogarty told BBC Breakfast: “Most importantly with the confirmed case is that they are well, they are isolating with their family.
“When I say that they are well, I mean they are not seriously ill.
“They have some symptoms but they do not require hospitalisation.”
