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People aged over 16 who live in North Tyneside will be able get tested for Covid from Saturday as part of a programme to try and stop the spread of the Indian variant.

Increased testing - or surge testing as it's known - will be carried out at units in North Shields and Wallsend for residents who aren't showing symptoms, including those who've had their vaccine.

It follows a rise in cases of the so-called Indian variant.

Covid-19 cases in the borough have risen from 22 to 53 per 100,000 people in the last week and North Tyneside Council believes the 19 confirmed cases of the variant in the region will increase.

Public Health Director Wendy Burke said: "We will be offering additional testing to identify any further cases of Covid-19 and in particular the variant, so that we can support people to self-isolate and identify their contacts.

"In addition, we will also be making available better accessibility to the vaccination programme and we will be doing more work to try to get those who haven't yet accessed their first dose of vaccine to come forward."

North Tyneside Council and the NHS are also looking to create additional appointments for those eligible to get vaccinated.

Ms Burke said: "We won't be offering the vaccine to anybody who is not currently eligible so it will continue to be restricted to the people who are eligible through the national roll-out.

"What we're trying to do is identify over-50s and those in the 'at risk' category who haven't yet had a first dose."

The two mobile testing units will be open between 10:00 and 16:00 and an appointment is not needed.

One will be located at Wallsend Forum, behind the Anson pub, and the other in North Shields town centre.

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Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce was asked again about the chances of signing Joe Willock on a permanent deal this summer after a successful loan period, which has seen the 21-year-old score six goals in six games.

Reacting to Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, who said this morning Willock would be "back with us", Bruce said: "We always said it was double-edged sword, we have to respect he is an Arsenal player, we will see over the summer if we can test their resolve."

Image source, Getty Images

Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has just done his media conference and says he is waiting on a fitness update on winger Allan Saint-Maximin and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who were injured against Sheffield United.

Bruce said: "We won't know until later today, Allan in particular and Martin. We expect them to be ok, but wont know 100% until they go on grass today."