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11 cases of Covid-19 ‘mutations of concern’ in Bristol
Public health teams in Bristol are planning for extra coronavirus testing as a new “mutation of concern” has been revealed to be in the city.
Health secretary Matt Hancock told MPs that there were new forms of Covid-19 in Bristol and Liverpool, and that people there should only go out when “absolutely essential”.
It is thought that the government could announce “surge testing” in some Bristol postcodes.
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It comes as the South Africa coronavirus variant has spread to more cities, with fears that the more infectious variant may be spreading in communities in England.
In areas where the South African variant has been detected, the government has rolled out a door-to-door testing programme.
Hancock said: “We have also seen 11 cases of mutations of concern in Bristol and 32 in Liverpool, and are taking the same approach.
“In all these areas it is imperative that people must stay at home and only leave home where it is absolutely essential.”
A Public Health England spokesman said it was “monitoring the situation closely and all necessary public health interventions are being undertaken, including enhanced contact tracing and control measures”.
Main photo: Martin Booth
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