Surge testing and additional vaccines are being made available to local authorities experiencing a rise in the Indian COVID variant, the Government has announced.

Additional testing and contact tracing measures are being deployed across Bedford, Hounslow, Burnley, Leicester, Kirklees and North Tyneside to help break stop the spread of transmission.

This includes Mobile Testing Units, door-to-door testing and extra PCR test kits for community testing sites. These areas are also receiving extra vaccinations to boost uptake by those eligible.

Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor for NHS Test and Trace said: 'As part of our proactive sequencing work, we have identified cases of COVID-19 variants in a number of areas across England. A small proportion of these cases have no link to international travel suggesting that there are some cases in the community.

'PHE and NHS Test and Trace are monitoring the situation closely and appropriate public health measures such as increased testing and contact tracing are being put in place where necessary.'

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