Covid: Bolton surge testing as India variant cases rise

There were 245 positive tests in Bolton in the week ending 1 May

Surge testing is to be rolled out in Bolton, which has one of the highest rates of the India variant of Covid in England.

Everyone living or working in the Rumworth, Deane or Great Lever areas is being urged to get tested.

Public Health England (PHE) said the majority of the variant cases were in north-west England - predominantly Bolton - and London.

Bolton now has the second highest coronavirus rate in the country.

There were 245 positive tests in Bolton in the week ending 1 May.

The council is setting up mobile testing units at Memory Lane Wedding Venue, Gilnow Lane and Makkah Mosque in Grecian Crescent.

Home testing kits will also be available for collection and return at Deane Road Temple.

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A PHE spokeswoman said cases of the Indian variant rose from 202 to 520 in the past week across England.

She added that "almost half the cases are related to travel or contact with a traveller".

"There is currently insufficient evidence to indicate that any of the variants recently detected in India cause more severe disease or render the vaccines currently deployed any less effective," she said.

BBC health correspondent Nick Triggle said the rise in cases was linked to an increase in travel from India ahead of the country being put on the travel-ban "red list" on 23 April.

Health officials said anyone with symptoms should book a test as normal and reminded residents to continue to use caution.

Surge testing was previously introduced in Bolton in March after a case of the South African Covid variant was found.