South African variant, one case in Southport.

[DixieRoy]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55889391

[DixieRoy]

The neighbourhoods are:
W7 and W17 in west London
CR4 in south London
WS2 in Walsall
ME15 in Maidstone, Kent
PR9 in Southport
EN10 in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire
GU21 in Woking
Dr Susan Hopkins, of Public Health England, urged people to come forward in these areas.
"We are trying to contain this so it does not spread."

[DixieRoy]

Sky News and Apple news carrying same story.
Sky news calling PR9 as Preston

[Toodles McGinty]

I just posted as much in the 'vaccine' thread. Thought the BBC had made a mistake at first, until they went through each and said 'Southport'.

A doctor friend said at the beginning of the outbreak that as soon as he saw cases from non-travellers, he knew it had spread far beyond the point of containing it.

So be extra careful folks. Look after yourselves and each other.

[*concerned*]

PR9 area is quite a large area of Southport !


https://www.getthedata.com/postcode/PR9/where-is-PR9

[Hamble]

The person may not even know what positive variant they have.
Anyone read if they do?

[local]

The virus in its early form was well rooted in the UK before anyone knew.

We have gone back to 2019.

The lockdown whenever we had it was always too late.

The Chinese telling us the truth might have helped.

How this SA version got here will be some interesting detective work.

[Toodles McGinty]

The virus in its early form was well rooted in the UK before anyone knew.

We have gone back to 2019.

The lockdown whenever we had it was always too late.

The Chinese telling us the truth might have helped.

How this SA version got here will be some interesting detective work.

Agreed.

The Chinese government don't tell themselves the truth, never mind anyone else.

The virus initially came to us through the European mainland, from what I've read. So I doubt this new strain came directly from South Africa.

We should have had more thorough checks on people entering the country. Or any, really.

They should have listened to Priti Patel last year.

[steve]

PR9 is a very large area and gov states 80,000 to be tested through all concerned areas, so maybe up to 10,000 will get tested in PR9. A

Awaits reports of where exactly people being asked to test

[gsgsgs]

PR9 is a very large area and gov states 80,000 to be tested through all concerned areas, so maybe up to 10,000 will get tested in PR9. A

Awaits reports of where exactly people being asked to test

I've just been to be tested, Splashworld home and back in less than an hour, very efficient.

Matt Hancock very clear, anyone living in PR9 must get tested.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-55884275

[Alikado]

PR9 is a very large area and gov states 80,000 to be tested through all concerned areas, so maybe up to 10,000 will get tested in PR9. A

Awaits reports of where exactly people being asked to test

Southports population is 90k so PR9 must be at least 30-40k

[gsgsgs]

I've just been to be tested, Splashworld home and back in less than an hour, very efficient.

Matt Hancock very clear, anyone living in PR9 must get tested.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-55884275

And result back in 1/2 hr, negative

[*concerned*]

I've just been to be tested, Splashworld home and back in less than an hour, very efficient.

Matt Hancock very clear, anyone living in PR9 must get tested.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-55884275

Wrong test methinks, you have had a Lateral Flow test, the required test is a PCR test (swab up nose etc) and sent to a lab to identify which strain of Covid or non at all.

[condemnation]

I've just been to be tested, Splashworld home and back in less than an hour, very efficient.

Matt Hancock very clear, anyone living in PR9 must get tested.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-55884275

Residents in the Southport area will be offered extra coronavirus testing after the evidence of the South African variant of the virus was located in the area.The urgent testing is beginning in parts of England after cases were found with no known links to travel or previous cases.Sefton Council will be setting up dedicated test centres to look for the new variant in specific areas of the borough.
Health experts have said that there is currently no evidence that the variant, known as VOC-202012/02 causes more severe illness or is more resistant to the coronavirus vaccines currently being rolled out.

Although it seems this new variant can still be combated through vaccination, it could be more transmissible, which means it could spread more quickly. That’s why it is important we carry out this additional testing to try and identify it and to limit the number of us who might be exposed to it.
<footer class="_3aPTW"><cite class="c7mcW">Margaret Jones, Sefton's Director of Public Health</cite></footer>

[gsgsgs]

Wrong test methinks, you have had a Lateral Flow test, the required test is a PCR test (swab up nose etc) and sent to a lab to identify which strain of Covid or non at all.

I had a swab at the back of the throat and up the nose. Surely if I have come back negative for COVID then I can't have the South African strain, the 2 go hand in hand?