? GET TESTED! Race is on

To contain new strain

A MILLION people have been told to get a coronavirus test straight away if they have a runny nose to halt the spread of a new strain.

People across the North West, including in Liverpool, Preston and west Lancashire, are being urged to get swabbed if they suspect they are ill.

It comes after more than 40 cases of a variant of the original Covid-19 virus were detected in the three areas.

Meanwhile, “surge testing” to spot the mutant South African strain was expanded yesterday after a case was found in Worcestershire.

Door-to-door testing started in the county after the variant – which it is feared may be resistant to vaccines – was found in two postcodes there.

Worcestershire County Council said “anyone” over 18 was “strongly encouraged” to take a Covid-19 test this week.

Medics are in a race against time to find anyone with the strain, which they fear could spiral out of control.

Scientists have warned the mutation, named 501YV2, is believed to be at least

50% more contagious than the original. There are thought to be hundreds more undetected cases in the country.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said scientists are working on booster doses against the mutations.

Half of adult Britons will be vaccinated by May, the Government claims, with

32million over-50s and the vulnerable expected to have jabs by the end of April.

Vaccines “tsar” Clive Dix said he was “very optimistic” of meeting the target.

He said the UK Vaccines Taskforce had met every objective it was set, and added that scientific studies taking place here would help the world get “ahead of the game” in spotting coronavirus variants.

Reports that pubs and restaurants may be allowed to reopen in April but be banned from selling alcohol were yesterday denied by the Government.

THE UK recorded

825 new deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test last night, bringing the overall death toll to

112,092. The figures also showed 11.465million people had received a first dose of a vaccine.