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Covid: Which areas are being surge tested for variants?

  • Published
    13 July 2021
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  • Coronavirus
People being given testsImage source, Getty Images

Extra Covid tests are taking place across England and Scotland in areas where new variants have been found.

This is known as surge testing - its purpose is to stop the spread of new forms of Covid at the very earliest stage.

How does surge testing work?

Increased testing and enhanced contact tracing is carried out in very specific locations, external - local authority areas, postcodes or even individual streets.

Some of this is carried out by health officials going door-to-door. It includes testing people who do not have Covid symptoms.

The testing also helps scientists better understand the new variants.

  • Where is the Indian variant and how is it spreading?

Where is it taking place?

Surge testing is currently taking place in areas of England where the new Delta variant - first identified in India - is spreading fastest.

East

  • Bedford Borough Council, external

North West

  • Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, external

  • Blackpool Council, external

  • Cheshire East Council, external

  • Cheshire West and Chester Council, external

  • Greater Manchester Combined Authority, external (Bolton, external, Bury, external, Manchester, external, Oldham, external, Rochdale, external, Salford, external, Stockport, external, Tameside, external, Trafford, external, Wigan, external)

  • Lancashire County Council, external (Burnley, external, Chorley, external, Fylde, external, Hyndburn, external, Lancaster, external, Pendle, external, Preston, external, Ribble Valley, external, Rossendale, external, South Ribble, external, West Lancashire, external, Wyre, external)

  • Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, external (Halton, external, Knowsley, external, St Helens, external, Sefton, external, Wirral, external, Liverpool City, external)

  • Warrington Borough Council, external

West Midlands

  • Birmingham City Council, external

South East

  • Oxford City Council, external

  • Brighton and Hove City Council, external

Sorry, your browser cannot display this map

Coronavirus across the UK

Tap or click to see how many cases per 100,000 in the latest week

Fewer than 10 10-49 50-99 100-249 250-499 500-999 1,000-1,999 2,000+

Surge testing is also currently being carried out in specific and targeted locations within the following local authority areas:

London

  • Lambeth, external (targeted areas, external)

South East

  • Slough Borough Council, external (targeted areas, external)

North West

  • Cumbria County Council, external (targeted areas, external)

Yorkshire and the Humber

  • City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, external (targeted areas, external)

  • Leeds City Council, external (targeted areas across Headingley and Hyde Park and Little London and Woodhouse wards, external)

  • Wakefield Council, external (targeted areas across Wakefield North, Wakefield South, Wakefield East, Pontefract North and Pontefract South, external)

Targeted community testing is also taking place in various health board areas across Scotland, external.

Combat medics from Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps vaccinate members of the public at a rapid vaccination centreImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Army medics are helping with vaccinations in some areas where the Delta variant is spreading

What are the new variants?

Scientists have identified a number of "variants of concern" - these are newly spotted versions of Covid, which could be more contagious.

Also, because they're newer, less is known about how they respond to current vaccines.

The Delta variant - first identified in India - is the latest to cause concern. Others include those first identified in Brazil, South Africa and the UK (Kent).

The variants were initially named after the place where they were first seen, but the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a new naming system which uses Greek letters instead.

Graphic shows current names for covid variants and WHO's proposed Greek names

What sort of tests are used in surge testing?

The PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test

People tested under the new variant surge programmes are being offered a PCR test.

This involves swabbing your nose or throat, dropping the swab in a vial of liquid and sending it to a lab for analysis.

It is regarded as the most reliable test, but normally takes a day or longer to get a result.

The lateral flow test

This also involves a swab from the nose or throat, which is dropped into liquid. The solution is then added to a test strip which shows a result in 20-30 minutes.

Graphic

I'm not in a surge testing area - can I still be tested?

Wherever you are in the UK, if you have symptoms you should book a free test online, external. You will be sent to a testing site or have a testing kit sent to your home.

If you have problems booking, call 119 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland or 0300 303 2713 in Scotland.

Anyone in England can now get free lateral flow tests each week - even if they do not have symptoms. These can be ordered online, external, by calling 119, or can be collected from test centres and pharmacies.

Anyone in Scotland can also order free lateral flow tests online, external, or collect them from test centres.

  • How do I get my two free tests a week?

What happens if I test positive?

Anyone who gets a positive result test must immediately self-isolate for at least 10 days. NHS Test and Trace will tell their contacts to isolate if necessary.

Self-isolating means not leaving home for exercise or even to buy food, medicines or other essentials.

People in England who fail to self-isolate after a positive test can be fined up to £10,000., external

Anyone on a low income who has been told to self-isolate can claim a £500 payment, external.

Banner image reading 'more about coronavirus'
  • VACCINE: When will I get the vaccine?

  • FACE MASKS: When do I need to wear one?

  • SCHOOLS: What are the rules about self-isolating, testing and masks in schools?

  • TESTING: What tests are available?

  • JOBS: Should I be working from home or going back to the office?

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