Home Secretary Matt Hancock said that people living in the ME15 part of Kent, which covers much of Maidstone, are to stay inside and wait to be tested, although a map has since revealed it will not be the whole postcode area. One of those 11 was discovered in the ME15 postcode area. If you have coronavirus symptoms, please book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119. The best way to stop the spread of the virus – including new variants – is to stay at home and follow the restrictions in place. The map of the area, which includes ME15 and a few addresses in ME16 and ME17. If you test positive by any method, you must isolate to stop the spread of the virus.”. Residents should take this test whether they have symptoms or not. Health and Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “It is vital that we do all we can to stop transmission of this variant and I strongly urge everyone in these areas to get tested, whether you have symptoms or not. with s Dr Susan Hopkins, Strategic Response Director to Public Health England and Chief Medical Advisor for NHS Test and Trace said: “As part of our proactive sequencing work, we know that the new variant of Covid-19, first detected in South Africa, has been identified in a number of areas across England. This is so important so that we can break the chains of transmission of this new variant. Until more people are vaccinated this is the only way we will control the spread of the virus. Our database currently has a total of 2,180 postcode areas (a group of postcode districts with the same alphabetical prefix is called a postcode area… The Kent Resilience Forum has been working on the COVID response since March 2020 and is made up of local partners including Kent County Council, Medway Council, Kent Police, District & Borough Councils, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Public Health England, NHS partners and Search and Rescue from Kent. Public Health England's random checks uncovered several cases in the past week. The Alicante area guide Alicante, best known for its tourism, has more to offer than long sandy beaches, clear waters, and endless lists of activities to keep everyone entertained. “In response to this, we are ramping up testing in targeted areas, so we can gather more information and effectively monitor any further community transmission.”. The strain was found in a person living in the town who had not travelled to South Africa or been in contact with anyone who had, suggesting community transmission. The variant is known as the South African SARS-CoV-2 – also known as VOC0202012/02. "If you live in one of those postcodes, it's imperative that you stay at home and you get a test, even if you do not have symptoms. “People across Kent should continue to follow the national restrictions that are currently in place.”. The name E484K, in layman's terms, is like map coordinates. "Working with local authorities, we are going door to door testing people in the local areas. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Trying to find the right nursery, school, college, university or training provider in Kent or Medway? The same national restrictions apply to these areas as they do the rest of the country – residents should only leave home for reasons such as essential activities (shopping, picking up medication, one period of exercise) and if they can’t work from home. Alicante is also soaked in history with castles, churches, fortifications, and museums on offer. ... Kent (ME15) Woking, Surrey (GU21) ... More than 100 volunteers are due to help deliver tests within the GU21 postcode area … It was first reported earlier on that it just concerned two cases in Surrey. Residents should take this test whether they have symptoms or not. We continue to closely monitor new variants, here and around the world, and in addition to our already extensive testing service, we are making surge testing capacity available to affected areas.”. “Our colleagues from Kent Police, Maidstone Borough Council, Kent Fire and Rescue and other support agencies will be carrying out these household visits and they are well trained in how to support people carrying out these tests. Plan meals, try new foods and explore cuisines with tested recipes from the country's top chefs. Prestige Solar and Heating Ltd, Chatham, 10 Savage Road Lordswood Chatham Kent, We are specialists within the commercial heating sector benefitting from over 20 years of experience, with satisfied customers throughout Kent. Andrew Scott-Clark, Director of Public Health for Kent County Council said: “We have been asked by Government to help investigate whether this variant of COVID-19 can be found in the ME15 postcode area after one person tested positive for this variant. In Kent, one case has also been identified with no previous links, meaning door-to-door coronavirus testing in the ME15 area of mid-Kent has now started.. The impacted area includes approximately 5,500 households in the W7 and W13 postcode areas of the borough. Door-to-door coronavirus testing in parts of the ME15 area of mid-Kent will begin on Tuesday morning (2nd Feb) after a specific variant of COVID-19 was identified. ME15 Postcode Area Information, England. "The fact is we are going to be living with Covid for a while to come in one way or another. I don't think it will be as bad as the last 12 months – or anything like – of course, but it's very, very important that our vaccines continue to develop and to adapt, and they will.". But chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance says there is no evidence it is more infectious than the Kent variant, which caused panic before Christmas and led President Emmanuel Macron to close the border. A small number of bordering addresses in ME16 and ME17 will also receive tests. If residents have either just had a test – or are booked in for a test soon – it is important that they still take this test as additional sequencing for test positives will be undertaken. Government have asked for as… He said extra testing was taking place in those areas where the variant had been found. A small proportion of these cases have no link to international travel suggesting that there are some cases in the community. Play your part to protect yourselves and your loved ones, and don’t be the reason someone catches COVID. The Council is also planning to hold a public meeting for residents later this week. There is no evidence the vaccines being used are less effective against the strain. Brits living in areas of Sefton, Merseyside, and parts of Bristo… For information on the Government’s announcement regarding surge testing in locations across the country – including Kent – go to https://www.gov.uk/government/news/surge-testing-to-be-deployed-to-monitor-and-suppress-spread-of-covid-19-variant. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said: "We are confident all vaccines that we are using provide a high degree of immunity and protection against all variants. The South African variant is causing concern due to 21 variations which make it more transmissible. The full list of what all residents can and can’t do is at www.gov.uk/coronavirus. After we've completed the search, we'll confirm if … Kent County Council and its partners in the Kent Resilience Forum urge all eligible residents to play their part in this important testing programme. Speaking at this evening's Downing Street briefing, he said 105 cases of the South African variant had been found in the UK, with 11 which did not appear to have any links to international travel. Mobile testing units and some home testing kits are being sent into eight postcode areas of London, the West Midlands, East of England, South East and the North West. What's for dinner? We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Detailing all the districts of maidstone as free downloadable pdf files. Coronavirus is devastating families across the country. Households within the area will be visited by staff from Kent Police, Maidstone Borough Council, Kent Fire and Rescue and other support agencies, who will knock on their door and ask everyone aged 16 and over to carry out a PCR test there and then; this test will then be picked up and sent for laboratory testing within a short time of the initial visit by the same team. Dr Alison Barnett, Regional Director at Public Health England South East, said: “The UK has one of the best genomic systems in the world which has allowed us to detect the variant originating in South Africa here in Kent and I urge everyone offered a test to take it up to help us to monitor the virus in our communities and to help suppress and control the spread of this variant. A total of 105 cases of SARS-CoV-2 variant (also known as VOC-202012/02) have been identified to date across the UK. Door-to-door coronavirus testing in parts of the ME15 area of mid-Kent will begin on Tuesday morning (2nd Feb) after a specific variant of COVID-19 was identified. “If you test positive by any method, you must isolate to stop the spread of the virus.”. In total, 105 cases have been detected in the UK but mostly in people with some link to the country, which is on the UK's 'red list' of countries from which returnees must quarantine in a hotel. The government has asked for as many people as possible in the ME15 area to be tested, although Kent County Council published a map this evening showing which parts of the ME15 postcode would be tested. But now it has transpired there are 10 cases of concern relating to postcodes CR4, W7 and N17 in London; WS2 in the Midlands; EN10 in the east; ME15 and GU21 in the south east; and PR9 in Preston. Door-to-door testing will take place in Maidstone after a case of the South African Covid-19 variant was found. ", He added: "The most important thing is that people in the postcode areas outlined need to take extra special precautions. “By visiting houses door to door and offering a quick and easy PCR test, we can help restrict the spread of the virus even further, as well as testing all those samples for this South African variant. Mr Hancock said that "finding every single case" of the variant was the government's aim. The first hour is payable in advance. Free Postcode Area and District maps of maidstone. In Kent, door-to-door testing in the ME15 area will begin on Tuesday and residents will be visited by staff including from Kent Police, Maidstone Borough Council and Kent Fire and Rescue. THREE new postcodes in the UK will be given door-to-door “surge” Covid testing after the South Africa variant was found. Local information for postcode ME15, England.For more information on postcodes, you can visit our Postcodes in England page. By visiting houses door to door and offering a quick and easy PCR test, we can help restrict the spread of the virus even further, as well as testing all those samples for this South African variant. Households within the specific ME15 areas will be visited by staff from Kent Police, Maidstone Borough Council, Kent Fire and Rescue and other support agencies, who will knock on their door and ask everyone aged 16 and over to carry out a PCR test there and then; this test will then be picked up and sent for laboratory testing within a short time of the initial visit by the same team. The service costs £25 an hour. It is absolutely vital that people in those areas minimise all social contact and get a test when the opportunity arises.". “The UK is a global leader in Covid-19 genomics, and because of this, we have been able to identify new strains of the virus and take decisive action. Mobile testing units to swab everyone regardless of symptoms have been sent to Goldsworth Park and St Johns in Woking and later this week will head to Egham. The postcodes of areas affected can be found at www.kent.gov.uk/targetedtesting we will NOT be visiting every household in those areas defined in list, just a significant sample of them. People across Kent should continue to follow the national restrictions that are currently in place.”. ... N17, CR4, WS2, ME15… This is why PCR tests are being offered door-to-door rather than the quicker lateral flow tests, which detect the virus but cannot be analysed further. Coventry and Warwickshire Mind aims to increase awareness and understanding of mental health issues within the local community. Government have asked for as many people as possible in targeted parts of the ME15 area to be tested following information that a specific variant of COVID-19 may have been identified in the area in a resident who has no links to travel or other variant cases. The extra surge testing carried out in ME15 postcode areas will be sent to laboratories for sequencing to identify whether the positive test results also test positive for the specific variant strain known as the South African variant. View KentCountyCouncil’s profile on Facebook, View KentCountyCouncil’s profile on YouTube, View kentcountycouncil’s profile on Vimeo, Symptom free testing to continue as restrictions ease, The symptom free testing programme across Kent will remain in…, UK-first to clamp down on illegally parked HGVs, Kent County Council and Ashford Borough Council joined forces last…, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/surge-testing-to-be-deployed-to-monitor-and-suppress-spread-of-covid-19-variant, Speed limit consultation for Upper Haysden Lane in Tonbridge. Here we pay tribute to those who have died from the virus in Kent. “I would encourage everyone to play their part by taking this PCR test when it is offered and follow the usual advice around self-isolation if they test positive. It was later clarified that essential workers could still go to work, shops will remain open and the existing lockdown rules will stay in place but residents should take extra care to avoid trips. People are reminded that the national lockdown is still in place and should stay at home unless they need to leave the house for essential reasons. “The most important thing is that people continue to follow the guidance that is in place – limit your number of contacts, wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, keep your distance and cover your face. "We have already made sure that all those cases are isolating and that we have done enhanced contact tracing of all their close contacts.". “I would like to reassure people that there is currently no evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 variant causes more severe illness, or that the vaccines being used will not protect against it. View the latest coronavirus stats including new cases, rolling rate and case rate compared to average. Our Education Directory has everything you could possibly need! We have got to bring this virus to heal. Lateral flow tests are disposed of at the site at the end of the day. To request a contaminated land search, please email your name, address, contact number, the full site address and a map of the site to ehadmin@midkent.gov.uk. For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here. If residents have either just had a test – or are booked in for a test soon – it is important that they still take this test as additional sequencing for test positives will be undertaken. Kent County Council and its partners in the Kent Resilience Forum urge all eligible residents to play their part in this important testing programme. PCR tests are sent to a laboratory for testing, and samples are stored for further investigation if needed. The extra surge testing carried out will be sent to laboratories for sequencing to identify whether the positive test results also test positive for the specific variant strain known as the South African variant. Further information including map of the affected area available at www.kent.gov.uk/targetedtesting. “I would encourage everyone to play their part by taking this PCR test when it is offered and follow the usual advice around self-isolation if they test positive. If a resident is not in when staff call, they will be left information on how to get a test. Dr Alison Barnett, regional director at Public Health England South East, said: “The UK has one of the best genomic systems in the world which has allowed us to detect the variant originating in South Africa here in Kent and I urge everyone offered a test to take it up to help us to monitor the virus in our communities and to help suppress and control the spread of this variant. To find information on symptom-free test sites across Kent and book a test, go to www.kent.gov.uk/symptomfreetest. I would like to reassure people that there is currently no evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 variant causes more severe illness, or that the vaccines being used will not protect against it. "We need to come down hard on it and we will," he continued. “The most important thing is that people continue to follow the guidance that is in place – limit your number of contacts, wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, keep your distance and cover your face. Postcodes in England. Andrew Scott-Clark, director of public health for Kent County Council said: “We have been asked by government to help investigate whether this variant can be found in the ME15 postcode area after one person tested positive for this variant.