Plans are in place for surge testing in Bexley if variants of Covid-19 are detected in the borough.

Whilst the number of coronavirus cases in Bexley has fallen consistently over the past two months, now falling below 100 cases er 100,000 people a week, a number of variants of the virus have been detected in the UK.

This has led to surge testing in a number of areas suspected of having the virus, with households across a large area receiving tests across a week-long period.

Bexley Council have released a statement stating that while theyhope no new variants are found in the borugh, 'plans are in place for possible surge testing'.

If this happens, the council will be communicating with residents and parters 'at speed' and the plans will quickly be carried out.

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The council said that as is normal and expected with any virus, the emergence of variants has taken place and testing and tracking new variants will become more common.

Monitoring the variants and the spread of the virus more widely through regular testing is a key measure of the Government’s roadmap to recovery and for allowing restrictions to be eased in the coming weeks and months.

The UK has a leading surveillance system and scientific advice that means we will be able to identify new variants and take action quickly.

A number of London boroughs, including Sutton, have already carried out surge testing in recent weeks, and today there is a hunt for a mystery person believed to have contracted the Manaus Brazilian coronavirus variant.