Covid-19: London surge testing extended over variant cases - BBC News

Surge testing will take place in two more London boroughs after cases of the Covid-19 South African variant were found in both areas.

Residents in "targeted areas" within the SE16 postcode in Southwark and N3 postcode in Barnet are being urged to get tested.

It comes after 44 confirmed and 30 probable cases were identified in Wandsworth and Lambeth.

All identified cases are isolating or have completed their isolation.

Testing has begun in the Rotherhithe ward of Southwark and Covid-19 tests are being delivered to properties in the immediate area.

• Variant surge probably due to arrival from Africa
• Surge testing in south London over Covid variant
• South Africa coronavirus variant: What's the risk?

Residents can also collect and drop off a Home Testing kit from Canada Water Library Theatre between 09:00 and 17:00 BST every day.

A temporary testing site is being opened at Deal Porter Square, next to the library.

Testing will begin at Finchley Central Underground Station car park on Thursday after one confirmed case was identified in N3.

Dr Tamara Djuretic, Barnet's Director of Public Health, said: "There is no evidence at present that they have passed the infection further."

Find out how the pandemic has affected your area and how it compares with the national average:

A modern browser with JavaScript and a stable internet connection are required to view this interactive.

How many cases and deaths in your area?

Enter a full UK postcode or council name to find out

---

---

---

---

Data for the most recent days may be revised upwards as new test results are received

---

---

What do these charts show?

Cases are people who have tested positive for coronavirus. Public health bodies may occasionally revise their case numbers. Case rate by age only available for England. *The "average area" means the middle ranking council or local government district when ranked by cases per 100,000 people.
The case rate chart shows how many people have tested positive each day for every 100,000 people in that area. The dark blue line shows the average daily rate over the past seven days. This average helps to show whether cases are rising or falling. The case rate by age chart shows how many people have tested positive in each age group per 100,000 people. Steeper rises in older age groups are of more concern because older people are more likely to be badly affected by the virus and are more likely to need hospital care. The case rate by age shows a rate. This means the values for the two age groups cannot be added together to get the overall case rate in each area.
Source: UK public health bodies - updated weekdays.

Vaccines are data for first doses. England and Scotland data is by local authority, Wales is by health board area, Northern Ireland is national data. The percentages of people vaccinated is calculated using the most recent mid-year population estimates published by the Office for National Statistics. The actual size of the population in each area may differ and so the percentages are also estimates.
Source: NHS England, Public Health Wales, Public Health Scotland, gov.uk dashboard, Office for National statistics. England and Wales updated weekly. Scotland and Northern Ireland updated weekdays

Deaths are where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. The chart shows the number of deaths recorded each week per 100,000 people in that area. Covid deaths are in red, other deaths are in grey. The average is the monthly average of deaths in the last five years between 2014-2019. This average will continue to be used in 2021. Recording of deaths over Christmas and New Year was affected by the bank holidays - trends should be treated with caution.
Source: ONS, NRS and NISRA - data updated weekly.

If you can't see the look-up click here.

Case totals for some local authorities in England fell on Friday due to a change in the way the government reports the results of lateral flow tests.

On Wednesday, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "Additional testing will be taking place in a targeted areas within SE16 in Southwark after a confirmed case of the Covid-19 variant first discovered in South Africa was found."

He said it was "vital" that those being asked to take a test in the area do so.

"This testing is essential to help monitor and suppress the spread of the virus, so I urge everyone contacted in this area and all those living and working in Wandsworth and in Lambeth to book their tests as soon as possible," the mayor added.

Reuters

Meanwhile, some people have taken to Twitter to complain about long queues at test sites in Lambeth on Wednesday.

Isobel Knight said: "I waited in line for over an hour this morning for the Lambeth surge testing.... If I didn't have Covid before, I probably do now."

So I waited in line for over an hour this morning for the Lambeth surge testing... only one pen for this whole queue? If I didn’t have covid before, I probably do now... pic.twitter.com/wmuBoUpEL0

— Isobel Knight (@IsobelSylviaAnn) April 14, 2021

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

Beth Eyre said: "I queued for two hours this morning and still no test as had to leave the queue to go to work."

@lambeth_council if you’re going to ask the entire borough to test for Covid, increase the testing capacity. Queued for 2 hours this morning and still no test as had to leave the queue to go to work... pic.twitter.com/qTEqYW3qj7

— Beth (@beth_eyre) April 14, 2021

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

A Lambeth Council spokesperson said it has increased capacity to ensure queues are manageable.

"We have eight testing sites available for Lambeth residents with more mobile testing units being added, as well as sites open in neighbouring Wandsworth they can use," the spokesperson said.

"These will remain open for a fortnight. Tests are also available by post."

From Thursday 15 April, additional testing sites will be available in Wandsworth, including Putney Leisure Centre and 23 pharmacies.

Victoria Jones

Surge testing was previously carried out in three postcode areas of Lambeth in February after a case of the South African variant was discovered.

In March, intensive testing was put in place in three areas of Wandsworth borough following a small number of cases.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiM2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy91ay1lbmdsYW5kLWxvbmRvbi01NjczNzU4MNIBN2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy91ay1lbmdsYW5kLWxvbmRvbi01NjczNzU4MC5hbXA?oc=5

2021-04-14 15:22:04Z
CBMiM2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy91ay1lbmdsYW5kLWxvbmRvbi01NjczNzU4MNIBN2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy91ay1lbmdsYW5kLWxvbmRvbi01NjczNzU4MC5hbXA