The case numbers associated to the B1.617.2 variant of Covid-19, first recognized in India, have greater than doubled inside every week in the UK, ensuing in additional surge testing and enhanced vaccine measures to be deployed in components of the nation the place the pressure is starting to unfold more and more quickly. Public Health England (PHE) mentioned on Thursday that its newest evaluation reveals the quantity of circumstances of the extremely transmissible variant first detected in Maharashtra has risen from 520 final week to 1,313 circumstances this week.
Most circumstances are in the northwest of England, with some in London, and extra measures are being put in place to “rapidly break chains of transmission”. UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock mentioned the well being authorities are monitoring the state of affairs very fastidiously and won’t hesitate to take additional motion if mandatory, indicating that the roadmap to lifting all lockdown measures from June 21 could should be reassessed.
This information demonstrates why our swift and decisive measures are in place. Everyone has an element to play in controlling this variant, from collaborating in surge testing, to following the foundations, to getting the jab, mentioned Hancock. We are dedicated to working with native areas and deploying our world-leading genomic sequencing to get this variant underneath management. We are supporting areas the place the circumstances of this variant are rising, he mentioned.
The minister mentioned it’s crucial that individuals who dwell in one of the 15 areas at the moment coated by surge testing processes get a free PCR check and everybody who’s eligible wants to return ahead and get their vaccine. PHE mentioned that whereas there isn’t any agency proof but to point out this variant has any better influence on the severity of illness or that it evades vaccines, the “speed of growth is concerning”.
Cases of this variant are rising in the neighborhood and we’re repeatedly monitoring its unfold and severity to make sure we take fast public well being motion, mentioned Dr Susan Hopkins, Covid-19 Strategic Response Director at PHE. Testing and isolating when required not solely limits unfold, it helps us to raised perceive how the variant behaves in the neighborhood which is important to taking efficient and proportionate motion shifting ahead “The way to limit the spread of all variants is the same. Keep your distance, wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, cover your nose and mouth when inside, keep buildings well ventilated and meet people from other households outside, she said.
The variant was confirmed as a “Variant of Concern” by PHE on May 7 after a rise in cases and evidence of spread in some areas. Since then across the northwest of England, significant work is underway with local councils and partners. In Bolton, mobile testing units have been deployed and door to door PCR testing has been offered to 22,000 residents. A vaccine bus has been established in the heart of the community to increase vaccine uptake as part of a wider drive.
PCR testing, whole genome sequencing and enhanced contact tracing are being used throughout London to target the many small dispersed clusters. All positive tests in London with a high enough viral load are also being prioritised for genomic sequencing to check for variants, and surge testing can begin immediately if it is needed. Taking this community-led approach has already proved effective in reducing transmission of variants in London to date, PHE said.
To help identify variant cases, surge testing is being deployed in 15 areas across England to suppress transmission, with more than 800,000 additional PCR test kits distributed. According to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), over 4,400 cases and over 14,000 close contacts have been traced and instructed to self-isolate.
Over 200 existing test sites and 130 schools have distributed test kits, with Mobile Testing Units deployed to provide PCR testing for people without symptoms. The public is also being urged to continue to take up the offer of two free rapid tests a week, to help identify asymptomatic cases. Anyone who does test positive in this way should take a follow-up PCR test, which can be sent for genome sequencing to help catch new variant cases.
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