A surge on testing will now take place in Merseyside after the new South African variant of Covid-19 was found in Southport.
New testing sites will be set up in the coming days after cases were found with no known links to travel or previous cases.
Speaking at the latest coronavirus briefing from Downing Street, Matt Hancock confirmed that surge testing would take place to try and get the variant under control.
The Health Secretary said the surge in testing is being launched in eight UK hotspots for the coronavirus South African variant.
He stressed everyone in ‘postcode areas’ identified should be limiting all social contact and taking extra precaution.
People in these areas should also get tested;
Affected areas including parts of Southport (PR9), Walsall (WS2), Ealing (W7), Tottenham (N17), Mitcham (CR4), Broxbourne (EN10), Maidstone (ME15) and Woking (GU21).
Sefton Council will be setting up dedicated test centres to look for the new variant in specific areas of the borough.
Matt Hancock said that the UK was also using its expertise to ensure that new Covid-19 variants are quickly identified.
He said: "A mutation in one part of the world is a threat to people everywhere."
He added that the UK has now identified 105 cases of the South Africa variant, 11 of which have no links to international travel.
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He said that while there is no evidence the South Africa strain is more deadly, “we need to come down on it hard”.
Mr Hancock said the UK is “surging” extra testing into the areas where the new variant has been found and going door to door to conduct the testing.
Mr Hancock said it was “imperative” that people in these areas stay at home and get a test when it is offered to them, even if they have no symptoms..
