PEOPLE living in parts of London are being urged to get Covid tests after cases of the South African variant were detected.

Doorstep ‘surge’ testing will be taking place in three postcodes in Lambeth, the Department of Health said tonight.

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People living in SE27 0, SE27 9 and SW16 2 will be offered tests and have been urged to continue to follow the ‘Hands, Face, Space’ message.

Locals are asked to come forward for testing to keep the spread as contained as possible. And tracers are using enhanced tracing to find out where new variants may have come from.

Tonight, the Government’s emergency virus group Nervtag confirmed a new variant detected in Bristol last week is now a “variant of concern”.

And a variant found in Liverpool is “under investigation”.

It comes as :

• Brits face £10k hotel quarantine fine if they end 10-day isolation early – and you can be forced to stay longer
• UK Covid deaths rise by another 1,052 as Matt Hancock says daily cases dropped by 47% in a fortnight
• The Covid symptom that can put you off having sex , study warns
• Fury as ‘whitewash’ WHO probe finds Covid did NOT start in Wuhan lab and backs China’s claim it came from elsewhere
• Air passenger from South Africa reveals she walked through Heathrow in 10 minutes with NO checks despite mutant strain

It comes as mass testing is deployed in 14 areas of England, in the hunt for mutant strains of the virus.

Last night, 10,000 people in parts of Manchester were urged to get a test, as four cases of a variant similar to that seen in Bristol, were detected in two separate and unconnected households.

What are the different variants in the UK?

• The original Covid virus – this is the variant that was widely circulating in 2020
• The Kent variant – this became the dominant version of the virus just before Christmas
• The South African variant – this is a variant that cropped up in South Africa and has now been traced in the UK – both in people who have and haven’t travelled to the country. It features the E484K mutation which helps the virus evade vaccines
• The Bristol variant – this developed from the Kent strain, and now (unlike the dominant Kent strain) features the E484K mutation, helping it escape vaccines too
• The Liverpool variant – this developed from the original Covid virus, and (unlike the original) features the E484K mutation.

Testing times

As cases of the new variants are detected, surge testing is being deployed to try and crackdown on any potential spread.

Last week the first announcement of its kind revealed tests being deployed in Worcestershire, Surrey, Kent, parts of London as well as Merseyside and the West Midlands.

Then Matt Hancock revealed doorstep testing had been expanded to Bristol and Liverpool.

Last night, Manchester City Council confirmed they too were rolling out more tests to trace cases of a variant similiar to the Bristol strain – featuring the E484K mutation.

Residents in these areas were last week urged to go to new pop-up testing sites even if they didn’t have any Covid-19 symptoms.

The three main symptoms of coronavirus are a new persistent cough, a high temperature and a loss of taste and smell.

If you have any of the these symptoms you should isolate and get a test.

Dr Susan Hopkins, from Public Health England, said on Tuesday, despite the more serious classification numbers of variant cases weren’t rising fast.

She said: “I think it is reassuring we aren’t seeing week on week increases of them [the variants]. They are remaining static.

“The data is always lagging behind but we have been watching them for four weeks.”

Residents in 18 areas across England and now Lambeth in London, have been asked to get a test regardless of their symptoms, with tests being dropped off door-to-door and more tests sites opening up.

Extra testing sites will be set up to enable anyone aged over 16 who lives, works or studies in the affected areas – which includes postcodes in Hulme, Moss Side, Whalley Range and Fallowfield.

In the next few days, volunteers will start knocking on people’s doors to offer tests for anyone who cannot get to a site,

The testing blitz will also be available for people who work in the area but do not live there.

Those who have been vaccinated should also take a test, the council has said.

The rollout will use PCR swabs, which take a few days to return results, and anyone who tests positive will be asked to self-isolate and pass on details of their contacts to NHS Test and Trace.

LIMIT EXPOSURE

Manchester City Council said it is working with Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace to investigate the spread further and take action to limit the number of people exposed.

David Regan, public health director at Manchester City Council, said: “We all know that the virus will change over time and it’s important that we investigate new strains to understand how they might spread.

“This is exactly what we’re doing with the intensive testing in parts of Manchester, with local testing units and people going door-to-door to offer people tests.”

Those living or working in postcodes M14 4, M14 7, M15 5, M15 6, M16 7, M16 8 are affected – and should check the council’s website for more information.

Last week, three new postcodes in the UK were given door-to-door “surge” Covid testing after the South Africa variant was found.

Brits living in areas of Sefton, Merseyside, and parts of Bristol and South Gloucestershire were able to get a test after cases of the variant with no links to international travel were identified.

Health officials are scrambling to prevent the surge of the South Africa strain, as it is feared that it could reduce the efficacy of vaccines.

The Department for Health and Social Care has said more areas will have additional testing made available to control the spread of Covid-19 variants.

It comes just days after it was revealed 11 rogue cases of the South African strain, with no links to foreign travel, were detected across eight postcodes in England.

A major door-to-door testing blitz on up to 350,000 people was launched earlier last week in a fightback against the new strains in hotspot areas.

Testing of around 10,000 people in Maidstone, Kent, was completed last Thursday night.

It comes after new mutant strains of Covid have been detected in the UK, sparking a race to develop booster jabs.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the threat, with government scientists and pharma firms now working on booster doses against these new mutations.

It was yesterday reported that the Test & Trace scheme doesn’t yet know whether the surge testing has detected any cases of the South African variant as scientists are yet to report their findings.

The results are set to emerge later this week.

Mr Hancock added that the government “has a plan to keep new variants under control”.

He said that Brits “mustn’t let a new variant undo all of the good work that the vaccine rollout is doing to protect people”

Around one in 20 positive tests are sequenced and it is hoped that the current lockdown will drive cases low enough so that all tests are sent for further sequencing.

Storm Darcy has brought disruption to parts of the UK, with yellow warnings for snow and ice issued in major cities and towns.

Police have warned people not to travel, with long delays expected and road closures in some parts.

In London and south-east England, up to four inches of snow is set to fall on Monday.

The freezing weather could mean you qualify for a £25 Cold Weather Payment to help reduce your heating bills this month.

The scheme is run by the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) and applies every winter.

It applies when the temperature in your area falls to 0˚C or less for seven consecutive days or more.

Baroness Stedman-Scott told Mirror Money: “Keeping warm throughout the winter is hugely important to staying healthy, which is why we pay to help heat homes when there’s a sustained cold snap.

“As well as Cold Weather Payments , we also run the Warm Home Discount Scheme and Winter Fuel Payments, so we have a number of schemes in place to help.”

The qualifying postcodes so far this winter are listed below – if you’re eligible, the money will be paid into the account registered for your benefit payments.

What is a Cold Weather Payment?

Cold Weather discounts are paid out by the Government during times of freezing weather – they equate to £25 per week.

The money goes to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit, such as pension credit or certain employment benefits.

Payments are triggered by data collected by the Met Office from 94 weather stations around Britain.

The scheme runs each year from November 1 to March 31 every year.

If you qualify for a Cold Weather Payment, you’ll be paid automatically after each seven-day period of freezing weather. This money should arrive in the bank account you already have registered with the DWP – and payments should be made within a fortnight.

Contact the pension centre or your local Jobcentre Plus office if you think you should have received a Cold Weather Payment but didn’t.

The Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 9344 can also be used.

Get the latest money advice, news and help straight to your inbox – sign up at mirror.co.uk/email

Who qualifies for a Cold Weather Payment?

Below is a list of the benefits you’ll need to be in receipt of to claim the support (read more on whether you qualify for benefits, here) :

• Pension Credit

• Income Support

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Income-based Employment and Support Allowance

• Universal Credit

Where Cold Weather Payments have been triggered this week

These are the areas where payments have been triggered so far in the past week (commencing February 8).

Albermarle

• DH1-7, DH9
• DL4-5, DL14-17
• NE1-13, NE15-18, NE20-21, NE23, NE25-46,
• SR1-7
• TS21, TS28-29

Andrewsfield

• CB1-5, CB10-11, CB21-25
• CM1-9, CM11-24, CM77
• CO9
• RM4
• SG8-11

Bedfordsaws

• MK1-19, MK40-46
• NN1-16, NN29
• PE19
• SG5-7, SG15-19

Boscombe Down

• BA12
• RG28
• SO20-23
• SP1-5, SP7, SP9-11

Cassley

• IV27-28
• KW11, KW13

Fyllingdales

• YO13, YO18, YO21-22, YO62

High Wycombe

• HP5-23, HP27
• OX9, OX39, OX49
• RG9
• SL7-9

Little Rissington

• CV36
• GL54-56
• OX7, OX15-17
• WR12

Marham

• CB6-7
• IP24-28
• PE12-14, PE30-38

Rosthamsted

• AL1-10
• EN6
• HP1-4
• LU1-7
• SG1-4, SG12-14
• WD3-7, WD17-19, WD23-25

Shap

• CA10-12, CA16-17
• LA8-10, LA21-23

South Farnborough

• GU1-4, GU7-35, GU46-47, GU51-52
• RG1-2, RG4-8, RG10, RG12, RG14, RG18-27, RG29-31, RG40-42, RG45
• SL1-2, SL4-6
• SO24

Strathallan Airfield

• FK8, FK11-19
• G63
• KY4-5, KY13-14
• PH1-7, PH13

Tibenham Airfield

• NR1-35

Wattisham

• CB8-9
• CO1-8, CO10-16
• IP1-23, IP29-33

Braemar

• AB35-36
• PH10-11, PH18

Charlwood

• BN5-6, BN44
• GU5-6
• ME6, ME14-20
• RH1-20
• TN1-20, TN22, TN27

Charterhall

• NE71
• TD1-6, TD8, TD10-15

Coleshill

• B1-21, B23-38, B40, B42-50, B60-80, B90-98
• CV1-12, CV21-23, CV31-35, CV37, CV47
• DY1-14
• LE10
• WS1-15
• WV1-16

Keele

• CW1-3, CW5, CW 12.
• ST1-8, ST11-12, ST14-21

Leeming

• DL1-DL3, DL6,DL7, DL9, DL10, TS9, S16 YO7

Llysdinam

• LD1-8
• SA19-20
• SY7, SY9, SY18

Nottingham Watnall

• CV13
• DE1-3, DE5-7, DE11-15, DE21-24, DE55-56, DE65, DE72-75
• LE1-9, LE11-14, LE16-19, LE65, LE67
• NG1-22, NG25, NG31-34

Shawbury

• SY1-6, SY11-13,
• TF1-13

Sheffield

• DN1 – 8, DN11-12
• HD1-2, HD4-6
• S1-14, S17-18, S20-21, S25-26, S35, S40-45, S60-66, S70-75, S80-81
• WF1-17

Threave

• DG1-2, DG5-8

Waddington

• DN9-10, DN13, DN15-22, DN31-41
• LN1-13
• NG23-24
• PE10-11, PE20-25

Wittering

• LE15
• NN17-18
• PE1-9, PE15-17, PE26-29

Aviemore

• AB37
• IV13
• PH19-26

Edinburgh Gogarbank

• EH1-42, EH47-49, EH51-55
• FK1-7, FK9-10
• KY3, KY11-12

Loch Glascarnoch

• IV4, IV6, IV7, IV14- IV16, IV23-24, IV63

Salsburgh

• EH43-46
• G65, G67-68

• ML1-3,ML6-11

Where Cold Weather Payments been triggered so far this winter

If you’ve experienced freezing temperatures in the past t

wo months, check your postcode to see if your area qualifies for a £25 payment.

Aboyne

• AB30-34, AB38, AB51-55

• DD8-9

Aviemore

• AB37

• IV13

• PH19-26

Braemar

• AB35-36,

• PH10-11, PH18

Eskdalemuir

• DG3-4, DG10-11, DG13-14

• ML12

• TD7, TD9

Salsburgh

• EH43-46

• G65, G67-68

• ML1-3,ML6-11

Shap

• CA10-12, CA16-17

• LA8-10, LA21-23

Auchincruive

• DG9

• KA1-26, KA28-30

• PA20

Achnagart

• IV40-49, IV51-56

• PH36, PH38-41

Carlisle

• CA1-8

• DG12, DG16

Redesdale

• CA9

• DH8

• NE19, NE47-49

Bingley

• BB4, BB8-12, BB18

• BD1-22

• HD3, HD7-9

• HX1-7

• LS21, LS29

• OL13-14

• S36

Edinburgh Gogarbank

• EH1-42, EH47-49, EH51-55

• FK1-7, FK9-10

• KY3, KY11-12

Leek Thorncliffe

• DE4, DE45

• S32-33

• SK13, SK17, SK22-23

• ST9-10, ST13

Rostherne

• CW4, CW6-11

• M1-9, M11-23, M25, M27-35, M38, M40-41, M43-46, M50, M90

• PR7

• SK1-12, SK14, SK16

• WA1-16

• WN1-8

Stonyhurst

• BB1-3, BB5-7

• LA2, LA6-7

• PR6

Katesbridge

• (NI) BT24 – 26

• BT30 – 34

Bainbridge

• BD23-24

• DL8, DL11-13

• Lake Vyrnwy

• LL20-21, LL23

• SY10, SY15-17, SY19, SY21-22

Stathallen Airfield

• FK8, FK11-19

• G63

• KY4-5, KY13-14

• PH1-7, PH13

Machrihanish

• KA27

• PA28-29, PA41-49, PA60

Little Rissington

• CV36

• GL54-56

• OX7, OX15-17

• WR12

Threave

• DG1-2, DG5-8

Tredegar Bryn Bach Park

• CF37-48, CF81-83

• NP4, NP11-13, NP22-24, NP44

• SA9

Loch Glascarnoch

• IV4, IV6, IV7, IV14- IV16, IV23-24, IV63

Tulloch Bridge

• FK20-21

• PA33, PA36, PA40

• PH8-9, PH15-17, PH30-35, PH37

• PH8-9, PH15-17, PH30-35, PH37, PH49-50

• FK20-21

• PA33, PA36, PA40

• PH8-9, PH15-17, PH30-35, PH37, PH49-50

Cassley

• IV27-28

• KW11, KW13

Lerwick

• ZE1-3

Dyce

• AB10-16, AB21-25, AB39, AB41-43

Kinloss

• AB44-45, AB56

• IV1-3, IV5, IV8-12, IV17-20, IV30-32, IV36

Two more postcodes will be given door-to-door “surge” Covid testing after the South Africa variant was detected.

All adults will be able to be tested in the Worcestershire County Council areas WR3 and parts of the WR9 postcode.

A testing unit has been set up at The White Hart pub in Fernhill Heath, near Worcester for adults who are displaying no symptoms and live within walking distance from the unit.

Home testing kits are also being made available in a bid to test as many people as possible.

Officials are desperate to contain the South Africa strain of Covid as some experts fear vaccines may be less effective against it.

A statement released by Worcestershire County Council read: “Working in partnership with NHS Test and Trace, every person over the age of 18, living in the WR3 postcode and some WR9 postcodes, is strongly encouraged to take a Covid-19 test this week, even if they are not showing symptoms.”

It continued: “To find out if your postcode is included in this testing and for more information please visit the Covid-19 variant pages of the County Council website.”

Director of public health for Worcestershire, Dr Kathryn Cobain said: “I urge everyone offered a test to take it up to help us to monitor the virus in our communities and to help suppress and control the spread of this variant.”

Currently, the government are rapidly testing around 80,000 people across England in eight key areas in hopes of locating “every single case” of the South African variant of the virus.

Mobile testing units, as well as home testing kits, had been spread out across eight postcodes where the variant has been located, with around ten thousand people in each location.

Now, the further two additions bring the number of locations up to ten – with a further twenty thousand people taking part in the surge-testing

While people may not be showing symptoms, there is evidence to suggest that asymptomatic sufferers could be spreading the virus at a much quicker rate.

As well as the WR3 and WR9 postcodes, locations include:

• Hanwell, west London (W7)
• Tottenham, north London (N17)
• Mitcham, south London (CR4)
• Walsall in the West Midlands (WS2)
• Broxbourne, Hertfordshire (EN10)
• Maidstone, Kent (ME15)
• Woking, Surrey (GU21)
• Southport, Merseyside (PR9)

Universities minister Michelle Donelan said earlier this week that it was essential people followed the government implemented rules following the revelation that 11 new cases of the South African variant had been discovered – none of which were linked to travel.

She told Sky News : “It is still a very perilous stage of this virus. We have got this new variant that is spreading so we do have to be extra vigilant and really abide by those rules to the letter, and also contemplate every action and every activity that we do.”

Surge testing is being launched in Middlesbrough, Hampshire and more areas in Walsall after new cases of the highly-infectious South African variant of Covid-19 were detected.

Testing blitzes have been carried out in more than a dozen areas, involving door-to-door visits and sites that people can visit to get swabbed for the disease, in a bid to find any further cases.

Tests are being offered in two postcodes in Middlesbrough and Hampshire, while surge testing in Walsall, where 10,000 residents were offered tests earlier this month, is being expanded to include more areas.

People living within the targeted areas are being encouraged to take a Covid-19 test this week even if they aren’t showing any symptoms of the virus, the Government announced on Saturday.

Have you been affected by coronavirus? Email [email protected]

Surge testing will now take place in the following areas:

• Middlesbrough, TS7
• Hampshire, RG26
• Walsall (the postcodes where further testing will take place have not yet been announced)

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough Council was deploying a mobile testing unit at the Parkway Centre in Coulby Newham from Saturday after a positive case in the Marton and Coulby Newham areas. It was identified as part of random sequencing by Public Health England.

Esther Mireku, public health consultant, said: “I urge everyone over the age of 16 in the Marton and Coulby Newham areas to come forward for a test. This will help us understand more about the potential spread of this new variant.

“While the overall Covid infection rate in Middlesbrough has now halved from its peak in early January, it has still not decreased as much as we would have liked.

“The high prevalence of Covid in the town, combined with the reporting of this variant, are a reminder to everyone of the importance of staying at home as much as possible and following hands-face-space when out for an essential reason.”

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: “New variants are popping up in different towns and cities around the country.

“What’s really important now is that we establish whether the variant has spread further around Middlesbrough.

“I don’t want people to be unduly alarmed. The NHS locally is doing a fantastic job with the vaccine. The overwhelming majority of people in Middlesbrough are doing the right thing and our numbers have halved in just over a month.

“Much brighter days are ahead, but when new variants emerge we’ve got to act decisively and that’s what we’ll do with this additional testing.”

Hampshire

Coronavirus surge testing was being deployed to areas north of Basingstoke after a case of the South African variant was found in Bramley, said Hampshire County Council.

It said the testing was a “precautionary measure” and told residents the risk of transmission from a single case is “considered to be very low.”

Details of the testing programme will be released next week, the council said.

Simon Bryant, director of public health at Hampshire County Council, said: “I appreciate that this news may be worrying for the local community, but it’s really important to understand that the risk of transmission from this single case is considered to be very low, helped by the fact that national restrictions are in place, with most people staying at home and adhering to the Government guidance of ‘hands, face, space’.

“Furthermore, there is no evidence that this particular variant causes more severe illness, or that the regulated vaccines do not protect against it.

“Following confirmation of the case and in line with Government guidelines, the county council has begun work with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Public Health England, our local NHS, as well as the Department of Health and Social Care, to arrange a localised surge-testing programme in the area. This is due to begin next week.

“The rapid local testing programme is primarily a precautionary measure designed to help the Government to better understand and prevent the spread of new variants across the country.”

Walsall

In Walsall, surge testing was extended after a second confirmed case of the variant was found. That case is not believed to be linked to international travel or the previously identified case in the borough.

Surge testing carried out after the first case was identified has now been completed.

Stephen Gunther, the council’s director of public health, said of the latest case: “This was picked up as part of routine sequencing that takes place on a percentage of all Covid-19 tests.

“Enhanced contact tracing has taken place and this case is not linked to travel from South Africa or to the other case found in another area of Walsall in December.

“I would like to thank the individual for following all public health guidance and self-isolating and am pleased to report they have now made a full recovery.”

He added: “We are mobilising teams for enhanced testing of additional targeted areas next week. More information will be made available and the Covid-19 variant testing postcode checker on the council’s website will be updated when details are finalised.”

Walsall currently had the third highest infection rate in England (402.5 new cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to February 8), while Middlesbrough’s rate of 357.5 was fifth highest.

Meanwhile, mass testing in the Egham, Surrey, and Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, areas are now complete.

Blitzes were previously launched in places such as Lambeth, south London, the WR3 postcode in Worcestershire, the Norwood Ward of the Sefton PR9 postcode area, and various areas in South Gloucestershire and Bristol.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “Further targeted areas will have additional testing made available to help monitor and suppress the spread of a Covid-19 variant.

“Working in partnership with the local authorities, additional surge testing and genomic sequencing is being deployed to targeted areas within Middlesbrough within TS7, areas in Walsall and in specific areas in the RG26 postcode in Hampshire where the Covid-19 variant first identified in South Africa has been found.

“Surge testing is being introduced in addition to existing extensive testing, and in combination with following the lockdown rules and remembering ‘hands, face, space’, will help to monitor and suppress the spread of the virus.

“Positive cases will be sequenced for genomic data to help understand Covid-19 variants and their spread within these areas.

“People living within these targeted areas are strongly encouraged to take a Covid-19 test this week, whether they are showing symptoms or not.

“People with symptoms should book a test in the usual way, and those without symptoms should visit their local authority website for more information.”

“Surge testing in the Egham and Broxbourne areas, which began on February 6 and February 1, is now complete and further data on surge testing will be provided in due course.”