Door-to-door 'surge testing' in Southport after South African variant identified
Long queues have formed outside a Covid testing centre in Southport following news of the presence of the South African variant of the virus.
People living in the PR9 postcode are being urged to get tested as soon as possible, with door to door testing due to get under way tomorrow (Wednesday).
Today, a long queue of people could be seen at Southport's Splashworld leisure centre, which is offering Covid testing.
Lucy spoke to Margaret Jones, the Director of Public Health for Sefton and asked her how concerned we should be.
Plans are being finalised by Sefton Council as part of the national drive to detect and contain the new South African variant of the COVID-19 virus.
This includes a Mobile Testing Unit, due to be open from Wednesday 3rd February, and a team of people to knock on doors to provide and collect home testing kits for local residents.
The Council has been told supplies of test kits are due to be delivered later today (Tuesday) and aims to start delivering them to people’s homes tomorrow.
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.
Public Health England is studying whether those who have already had the vaccine could need a booster shot "a bit like the annual flu vaccine" to help protect them against Covid-19 mutations, such as the South Africa, Brazil and Kent variants.
As well as mobile test units and door-to-door visits, there are four local walk-through test centres for people with symptoms are at Bootle Town Hall, Crosby Library Car Park, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall.
Test centres for residents with no symptoms who have to go out for work or caring purposes are at Aintree Racecourse, Bootle Leisure Centre and Splash World in Southport.