A small number of cases with one of the Covid-19 Indian variant has been confirmed at Burton Borough School in Newport.
All cases have self-isolated and extended contact tracing has been taking place to identify their contacts and ask them to also self-isolate.
Public Health England has advised that, while the Covid-19 Indian variant is considered to be more transmissible, there is no firm evidence yet to show this variant has any greater impact on severity of disease or evades the vaccine.
As an extra precaution and to minimise the risk of the variant spreading in the community, the following groups are asked to get tested:
- As a priority – secondary-school aged children in Newport, staff at the schools and their extended families and support bubbles (from Burton Borough, Haberdashers’ Adams Grammar and Newport Girls’ High School Academy) are urged to take a PCR Covid-19 test, even if they are not showing symptoms and even if the adults in the families have been vaccinated;
- Families with primary-school aged children in Newport as well as all other Newport residents are encouraged to get PCR tested as soon as they can.
A new testing centre is opening in Newport from today, 19 May (at Shuker Playing Fields, Sports and Social Club, Barnmeadow Road, TF10 7TP), to make it easier for people to get tested.
Opening times are Monday to Friday, 11am-6pm and 9am-3pm over the weekends. People can drop in between the opening times – no appointments needed, but queues may be possible so please plan ahead.
If it is more convenient, you can book an appointment at other PCR testing sites across the borough.
When completing the booking form, in the section “Why are you getting tested?”, please select the option “My local council or health protection team has asked me (or someone I live with) to get a test, even though I do not have symptoms.”
