Surge testing begins in Bristol and South Gloucestershire
Bristol City Council have confirmed surge testing is now taking place in around 24 postcodes across Bristol and South Gloucestershire from today, over the next 2 weeks.
It's in response to the new varient which has been found in the area this week, with the authority saying these postcodes are "in and around" where the variant has already been discovered.
Surge testing means there'll be more mobile testing units, locations where people can collect and return test kits, and the delivery of test kits to homes in some specific areas.
It will also mean that many people will be tested even if they have no symptoms.
In a statement on their website, the Government said "Working in partnership with local authorities, additional surge testing and sequencing is being deployed to targeted areas around Worcestershire WR3, an area in Sefton PR9, and areas in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, where coronavirus (COVID-19) variants have been found."
"Surge testing is in addition to existing extensive testing, and in combination with following the lockdown rules and remembering hands-face-space, will help to monitor and suppress the spread of the virus."
"Positive cases will be sequenced for genomic data to help understand coronavirus (COVID-19) variants and their spread within these areas."
"People living in targeted areas with these locations are strongly encouraged to take a coronavirus (COVID-19) test this week, whether they are showing symptoms or not. People with symptoms should book a test in the usual way."
"People without symptoms should visit their local authority website for more information."
A full list of postcodes are as follows:
BS1 3
BS2 0
BS2 8
BS2 9
BS3 5
BS4 4
BS5 6
BS5 7
BS6 5
BS8 2
BS9 4
BS5 0
BS6 6
BS14 9
BS16 1
BS16 2
BS16 3
BS16 5
BS16 6
BS16 7
BS16 9
BS37 8
BS8 3 (only within Bristol City Council boundary)
BS14 0 (only within Bristol City Council boundary)