Staffordshire County Council is advising everyone in Stone, and throughout Stafford borough, to get tested in the next four weeks as South African variant of Covid-19 found in Staffordshire.
The first case of the South African variant of Covid-19, with no links to international travel, has been identified in Staffordshire after a reside tested positive in January 2021.
The individual has now recovered and contact tracing has established that the resident had no known contact with people in their local area whilst infectious and no links to other areas where cases have been identified.
Staffordshire County Council is already encouraging everyone who needs to be out and about during lockdown to get tested, but this advice has now been revised to say that everyone in the Stafford borough area should get tested in the next four weeks as the health authority looks for more cases in the borough.
Dr Nic Coetzee, consultant in communicable disease control for Public Health England Midlands, said:
“With new variants emerging all the time and spreading more rapidly, it is not surprising that a case of the South African variant has been found in Staffordshire.
“While there is currently no evidence of the South African variant circulating in the community, we want to be proactive in testing people and stopping the spreading of infection. This is a timely reminder to everyone to continue to follow the rules, Stay at Home, and if they do have essential reasons to leave their home then get tested regularly.”
Community testing for people without symptoms is available seven days a week in every borough and district, and the county council plans to offer additional testing capacity and screening for the variant in Stafford borough.
Dr Richard Harling, the county council’s director of health and care said:
“In Staffordshire we are asking everyone who has a legitimate reason for being out and about during lockdown, to make sure they get tested at least weekly at one of our community testing centres for people without symptoms.
“We know that one in three people who have the virus show no symptoms, and this will help us identify more people with Covid who should be isolating, which will help stop the spread of infection.
“In the case of residents who test positive in Stafford borough, we will also check to see whether they have the South African variant.”
Community Testing Centres are open seven days a week for people without symptoms. Walk-in testing without appointment is available on the day or people can book in advance at Welcome to the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Community Test Sites Appointment System (zipporah.co.uk)
People with symptoms should book a test at the National Beaconside Regional Drive-Through Centre if available at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
