Door-to-Door Testing Kicks Off in Kent Over New South African COVID Variant
Door-to-door coronavirus testing launches in the ME15 area of mid-Kent this Tuesday (2nd Feb) after health officials found a potentially worrying variant of COVID-19 lurking in the community.
Kent County Council and Kent Resilience Forum are urging every resident aged 16 and over to take part in this crucial testing push. The move comes after a case with no travel links tested positive for the South African variant, officially named VOC-202012/02.
All Hands on Deck: Police and Fire Crews Join the Testing Blitz
Households in the ME15 postcode will see visits from Kent Police, Maidstone Borough Council, Kent Fire and Rescue, and support teams. They’ll offer quick PCR tests on the spot, regardless of symptoms. These tests are then collected and rushed off to labs for detailed analysis.
Residents who have recently tested or already booked a test elsewhere must still take part in this special testing programme, as authorities need to track the spread of this particular variant.
Andrew Scott-Clark, Kent’s Director of Public Health, said: “We’re conducting these tests to find out if the South African variant is spreading locally. Door-to-door PCR testing is a crucial step to control and limit this new threat.”
He added reassurance: “There’s no current evidence that this variant causes more severe illness or evades vaccine protection.” Still, he urged everyone to follow self-isolation rules and national lockdown measures.
Experts Stress Urgency as Variant Detected in Communities
Dr Alison Barnett of Public Health England South East highlighted the UK’s world-class genomic surveillance, which spotted the variant early. She said, “We urge all residents to take the test to help suppress and control this variant’s spread.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock backed the effort: “Stop transmission by getting tested, even without symptoms. The best weapon remains staying home and following restrictions until more people are vaccinated.”
Dr Susan Hopkins, NHS Test and Trace Chief Medical Advisor, explained the rise of community cases with no travel link means extra testing is vital. “We’re ramping up targeted testing to monitor and control this variant,” she said.
Stay Safe: Follow Lockdown Rules and Get Tested
- The ME15 area will see door-to-door PCR testing led by trained public safety teams.
- Tests will be sent to labs for in-depth sequencing to spot the South African variant.
- Residents must continue to follow lockdown rules – stay home unless absolutely necessary.
- Find symptom-free test sites and book a test at www.kent.gov.uk/symptomfreetest
- If you have COVID symptoms, book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119.
This surge testing is crucial as the UK has already identified 105 cases of this South African variant nationwide. The Kent Resilience Forum, including police, fire, NHS, and local councils, continues to lead the COVID-19 response since March 2020.
Don’t let your guard down. Take the test, stay safe, and protect your community.
