Residents aged 16 and over in eight areas across Surrey, London, Kent, Hertfordshire, Southport and Walsall are being asked to take tests, regardless of symptoms.

The UK has launched urgent testing for the covid variant initially detected in South Africa amid concerns over community transmission of the strain. The testing will be carried out across eight areas in England, including Surrey, London and Kent, where around 80,000 people reside, Xinhua news agency reported, Those over 16 years old are asked to take tests whether they have symptoms or not, according to a BBC report. So far, a total of 105 cases of the variant, called B.1.351, have been identified in Britain.

The latest development came after the detection of 11 cases of the variant which could not be directly traced back to people who had travelled to South Africa, prompting fears that there might be a community transmission.

Prof Adam Finn, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said a "real effort" should be made to try to "eliminate" the South African variant before it took hold.

At a virtual Downing Street news conference on Monday, Health 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.

"The best way to stop the spread of the virus, including new variants, is to stay at home and follow the restrictions in place. "Until more people are vaccinated this is the only way we will control the spread of the virus." It is "absolutely vital" that people in these eight areas of England minimize all social contact, he noted.

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