Extra Covid testing rolled out across Leeds Harehills and LS8 postcodes today after new variant cases

The additional surveillance testing for people without Covid symptoms will be available for those living or working in parts of LS8, including parts of Harehills and the area just north of Easterly Road, as well as some small areas outside of LS8.

It follows two cases of Covid-19 picked up in a household in the area in early January, which could have been the South African variant.

After receiving positive tests, the residents isolated, notified test and trace teams and no further cases were identified among contacts.

Both residents have since made a full recovery and there has been no evidence of transmission in the wider community.

Testing by Public Health England found the cases could potentially have been an incident of the South African variant, although this could not be fully determined.

People living and working in the community will be given advice on how they can get tested, either through home testing or at the Infinity Centre, Conway Road, near the Bilal Mosque site.

The testing will help the council and government understand the level of new variants in the city, so they are better informed and can plan their response.

Victoria Eaton, Leeds City Council’s director of Public Health, said last week: “We want to reassure local residents that the extra testing being announced for people without symptoms is to help us better understand and prepare for new variants in our communities.

“There is absolutely no indication of live cases of the South African variant in the LS8 area, and no evidence of a greater risk of transmission for local people.

"Levels of infection have been falling in these areas of Leeds over recent weeks, in line with improving infection rates right across the city, which is really positive news and we want to do all we can to keep these rates falling.

“Cases of the South African variant also remain very low nationally, and it does not lead to more severe disease and is not thought to be any more contagious than the dominant UK variant.

“This additional testing will allow us to find any potential asymptomatic cases of new variants and build a more detailed, comprehensive picture of where those cases may come from and how they might spread.

“Anyone who is approached to take part would be playing a really important role in national efforts to stay ahead of COVID-19, and we would encourage local residents to take up offers to be tested.”

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