During this afternoon’s press conference the Government has confirmed that Croydon is one of the locations across the country where Public Health England have found evidence of a Covid-19 case with the variant first identified in Brazil.
The location is the South Norwood area, and, importantly, I want to assure you all that there is no evidence of onwards transmission. But, as a precaution, we will be working with NHS Test and Trace to introduce extra testing in the area from next week, as we’ve recently done in New Addington and Fieldway.
I will share more information with you all as soon as I can – including how and where to get tested – but it’s likely to involve asking everyone living in the South Norwood area over the age of 16 to take a test, whether or not they have symptoms.
Positive tests will be sequenced to identify any further spread of the variant, enabling a better understanding of this particular strand of the virus and identifying if there are any more cases in the area.
There are no additional restrictions in place in South Norwood nor does this affect pupils’ return to school on Monday – schools, nurseries and colleges will open as planned. Residents in the area can still leave their homes for essential reasons – for example to work, if they cannot work from home, to attend medical appointments and to get food and other supplies.
South Norwood residents who have any of the Covid-19 symptoms should continue to get tested in the usual way by booking at govtestingsite or by calling 119.
Everyone should continue to follow the national lockdown restrictions and the NHS social distancing guidance on hands, face, space to protect themselves and their loved ones from Covid-19.