Get tested advice to halt spread of African variant

HUNDREDS OF thousands of people are being urged to get tested to try and stamp out a “concerning” strain of the virus which causes Covid-19.

One expert said “none” of the vaccines are as effective against the South African variant – though studies suggest that the jabs still prevent severe disease and death.

Rapid surge testing has been deployed in four London boroughs – with all adults in Wandsworth and Lambeth being asked to get a test and people in specific areas of Barnet and Southwark also invited to perform a test.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Boris Johnson took the situation “very seriously” and recommended for everyone to “take up that invitation” to get tested.

Commenting on surge testing, Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), told Good Morning Britain: “From a vaccine point of view the South African variant is of concern.

“We know from studies that none of the vaccines are as effective against the South African variant – though the vaccines still prevent against severe disease and death even with the South African variant. The problem is, they may not protect against infection which allows infection to transmit, and if we allow transmission through the community in large numbers with high infection rates then we could see other variants emerging.”

Data up to April 7 suggests there have been 544 cases of the South African variant found in the UK in total.

The Government said a further 38 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of yesterday, bringing the UK total to 127,161.