South African coronavirus variant found in Hampshire with residents in the Basingstoke area urged to get tests

A person has tested positive for the South African coronavirus variant in Hampshire.
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The case was found in the Bramley area of Basingstoke.

Hampshire County Council have said that all residents over the age of 16 will be asked to undertake a COVID-19 test.

The surge testing programme will begin next week.

A case of the South African variant of coronavirus has been identified in Hampshire. Picture: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty ImagesA case of the South African variant of coronavirus has been identified in Hampshire. Picture: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images
A case of the South African variant of coronavirus has been identified in Hampshire. Picture: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images

Simon Bryant, the council’s director of public health, 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’.

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‘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 (DHSC), 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.’

Details of how this will work will be published on the County Council’s website early next week. Residents will be able to use a postcode checker to identify whether or not they will be provided with a test.

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Whether people are contacted in relation to the local testing initiative or not, the advice for all residents in Hampshire, remains the same – stay at home, essential travel only, hands-face-space.

Further information about COVID-19 variants can be found on the Government's website.

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