Surge testing extended into parts of Southwark after South African variant cases from Wandsworth and Lambeth spill over

Surge testing has been extended into Southwark after the South Africa Covid variant was found there.

A case was discovered in Rotherhithe, where targeted door-to-door testing is now taking place.

It comes after the largest amount of surge testing to date began in neighbouring Lambeth and Wandsworth, when 44 confirmed cases of the South Africa variant were found.

Officials will carry out door-to-door testing and drop off home kits this week to residents in the area.

A mobile testing site has also been set up at Deal Porter Square, and residents can collect and drop off testing kits at Canada Water Library Theatre.

Southwark council warned the Covid strain “may be more easily passed between people”.

Sangeeta Leahy, the council’s director of public health, said: “We understand that this could be concerning news, but there is no cause for alarm.

“We are delivering Covid-19 tests to residents in a defined area so that we identify how far, if at all, the variant has spread.

“This variant of COVID-19 may be more easily passed between people, so please take a test if we ask you to by letter.

“Anybody aged 11 or over who lives, works or travels in these parts of London has been strongly encouraged to take a Covid test regardless of whether they are displaying symptoms.”

A post on the official Mayor of London Twitter account on Tuesday said: “Additional testing will be taking place in a targeted area within SE16 in Southwark after a confirmed case of the COVID-19 variant first discovered in South Africa was found.

“If you’re asked to take a PCR test, it’s vital that you do so, whether you have symptoms or not.”

Southwark Council tweeted: “Following the discovery of a case of the South African variant of COVID-19 in the Rotherhithe ward, Southwark Council is carrying out targeted door-to-door COVID-19 testing in parts of SE16 this week.”

Lambeth public health director Shelagh Fogarty revealed the Lambeth outbreak had been detected in a care home but that none of the residents had any symptons. “I would urge people to get their vaccines because this shows it is providing protection against this variant,” she said.

Sangeeta Leahy, Director of Public Health at Southwark council, said: “Yesterday was our first day of targeted testing and we issued nearly 1,500 COVID-19 tests to postcodes in our localised target area within the SE16 postcode. All residents in the area have also received a letter. The response of our residents from these households has been really positive. We thank people for their support with the ongoing targeted testing in their area and encourage residents and local businesses to take and return a test if we ask them to.”