By James Simons-
On-the-spot doorstep tests, home testing kits and mobile testing units will be deployed in eight areas, after the British government advised those living in hotspots to limit their time away from home.
The plans follows fears that the more infectious variants of the virus may be spreading in communities in England.
Dr Susan Hopkins has suggested that vaccines may offer less protection against the South African variant, even though they offer a good level of immunity. The on the spot tests are being planned to reduce the spread of the new variant and ensure those who may have the new strain of the virus can’t spread it.
However, on the spot tests can also become intrusive if those tests are mandatory.
Home testing kits are being delivered and collected in many areas while some are also providing mobile testing sites. The tests will be PCR ones, which involve swabbing the nose or throat and are regarded as the most reliable.
Mr Hancock also said it was “absolutely vital” that people in these areas where cases of the variant had been identified minimise all social contact.
In most of the areas, home testing kits are being delivered and collected, while some are also providing mobile testing sites. The tests will be PCR ones, which involve swabbing the nose or throat.
Under current restrictions, people arriving into England from anywhere outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man need to isolate at home for 10 days and provide a negative Covid test result before travel.
Matt Hancock has expressed a determination to come down hard on the virus
Labour, however, wants the government to go further and introduce a hotel quarantine system for all UK arrivals.
On Monday, the House of Commons voted 262-0 in favour of a non-binding motion to introduce such a system. All Conservative MPs abstained.
Labour’s shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds accused the government of being “irresponsible” not to back the motion.
“We have to do everything we can” to protect against “mutations emerging elsewhere”, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
UK minister Ms Donelan said Ms Sturgeon’s proposal of a “blanket policy” on quarantining all arrivals would be “unfeasible” and “not necessarily effective”. She said the UK government’s strategy had to be “targeted and deliverable”.