Extra surge testing is set to be deployed in Croydon to help test people for coronavirus - after a resident tested positive for the Brazilian P1 variant of Covid-19.

The new strain of the virus had made headlines this week as the government's test and trace service worked to identify a "mystery" person who had caught the strain,

In an announcement on Friday afternoon, Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the case had been identified in Croydon.

Mr Hancock told the Downing Street news briefing: “Using the latest technology and with the dogged determination of our Testing and Tracing scheme, we have successfully identified the person in question.

“The best evidence is that this person stayed at home and there is no evidence of onward transmission but as a precaution we are putting more testing in in Croydon where they live to minimise the possibility of spread.”

Your Local Guardian:

Croydon Council confirmed extra testing would be rolled out in the South Norwood area in conjunction with the UK's Test and Trace service.

A Croydon Council spokesman said: "There is no evidence of onwards transmission, but as a precaution extra testing will introduced in the area, as it has recently been in New Addington and Fieldway. Croydon Council will be asking everyone over the age of 16 in the area to take a PCR Covid-19 test, even if they are not showing symptoms.  

"Details of this extra testing programme – including how and where to get tested – will be shared as soon as they are available. 

"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 the South Norwood area 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 are being urged to get tested in the usual way by booking at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119. 

Your Local Guardian:

Six cases of the variant, first identified in the Brazilian city of Manaus, have been found – three in Scotland and three in England.

Along with the UK and South Africa variants, the Brazil strain could be more contagious and easy to catch.

All three variants have undergone mutations to their spike protein - the part of the virus which attaches to human cells.

As a result, scientists say they seem to be better at infecting cells and spreading.