London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Aug 01, 2025

Covid-19: Stay at home in variant test areas, Matt Hancock urges

Covid-19: Stay at home in variant test areas, Matt Hancock urges

It is "critical" that people in areas singled out for enhanced testing for the South African variant stay at home, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.

He told MPs there were other "mutations of concern" in Bristol and Liverpool, and people there should also only go out when "absolutely essential".

The government is expected to announce surge testing in certain postcodes of the two cities.

Home testing kits are already being deployed in a number of other areas.

On-the-spot doorstep tests and mobile testing units are also being used with the aim of reaching 80,000 people, amid fears the more infectious variant may be spreading in communities in England.

Gene sequencing has so far uncovered 105 cases of the South African variant, which - like the variant previously discovered in Kent - is thought to be more contagious although not more deadly.

Eleven of the cases of the South African variant had no link to foreign travel, prompting concerns it is spreading in the community.

Over-16s who live or work in these areas will now be asked to take tests whether or not they have symptoms, as part of "surge testing":

*  Parts of the W7 and W13 postcode areas in Hanwell and West Ealing in west London

*  Parts of the ME15 postcode area in Kent

*  Parts of the WS2 postcode area in Walsall in the West Midlands

*  Parts of the GU21 postcode area in Woking, Surrey

*  Parts of the PR9 postcode area in Southport

*  The CR4 postcode area around Pollards Hill in south London

*  Tottenham Hale in the N17 postcode area of north London

*  The EN10 postcode area in Broxbourne

In most of the areas, the home testing kits are being delivered and collected, while some local authorities are also providing mobile testing sites. The tests will be PCR ones, which involve swabbing the nose or throat and are regarded as the most reliable.


Speaking in the House of Commons, the health secretary said: "We have also seen 11 cases of mutations of concern in Bristol and 32 in Liverpool, and are taking the same approach.

"In all these areas it is imperative that people must stay at home and only leave home where it is absolutely essential."

He also urged people to take a test if offered one by their local authority.

Volunteers were out delivering test kits in Woking on Tuesday


Public Health England (PHE) later confirmed that the 11 cases in Bristol were the new Kent variant with the E484K mutation, which has already been seen in the South African and Brazilian variants.

The 32 cases in Liverpool are the original version of Covid-19 but also have the new E484K mutation.

There is some concern this mutation might make vaccines less effective.

A PHE spokesman said it was "monitoring the situation closely and all necessary public health interventions are being undertaken, including enhanced contact tracing and control measures".

A spokesman for Bristol City Council said local public health teams would begin to plan for extra testing in the area, with details released when approved.



The news on mutations has obviously caused alarm.

What is more, there are likely to be more out there - the ones detected so far come from random sampling of between 5% and 10% of positive cases.

But that should not detract from the progress that is being made in terms of spread of the virus.

This is the second day in a row that cases have been below 20,000.

At the start of the year around 60,000 new cases a day were being diagnosed.

This drop has now started to translate to significantly fewer admissions to hospital - the numbers have dropped by nearly a quarter in the past week.

This will mean deaths will soon start falling - in fact it already looks as if the peak may have been passed last week.

Later in the month it would be hoped the impact of vaccinations would be felt, which could result in a quite marked drop in deaths.

The mutations require vigilance, but the bigger picture shows real progress is being made.

Meanwhile, tougher quarantine restrictions will be extended to all travellers arriving directly into Scotland, to minimise the risk of new variants entering the country, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

The four UK nations have already agreed that people arriving from high risk countries under travel bans will have to isolate in hotels rather than at home, with the measure due to be introduced in the coming weeks.

But Ms Sturgeon said this did "not go far enough" and her government intended to implement "managed quarantine" for anyone who arrives directly in Scotland.

She added that five cases of the South African variant had been identified in Scotland but they were all linked to travel.

Labour has also called for hotel quarantine to apply to all UK arrivals.

In December, the discovery of the new variant prompted a ban on foreign nationals travelling into the UK from South Africa and later from southern African countries.

It comes as the latest figures show the UK has given out more than 10 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, including more than 9.6 million first doses.

The number of daily coronavirus cases recorded in the UK continues to fall, with 16,840 cases recorded on Tuesday - the lowest daily figure since 9 December.

There have also been a further 1,449 deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test, according to the latest government figures.

It compares to 1,631 deaths recorded last Tuesday and means the number of deaths has fallen for seven days in a row, compared to the same day the previous week.

In other developments:

*  The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine could lead to a "substantial" fall in the spread of the virus, scientists say

*  There were more than 9,000 deaths linked to Covid in the UK in the week ending 22 January, up by nearly 1,300 on the week before, an analysis of death certificates shows

*  Scotland's youngest pupils are likely to return to the classroom full time from 22 February as schools start a phased reopening

*  Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised almost £33m for NHS charities during the first national lockdown, has died aged 100 after testing positive for Covid-19


Matt Hancock: "Our mission must be to stop its spread altogether"


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
×