Matt Hancock has said that there is "no evidence" that the South African coronavirus variant is more severe, but admitted that "we need to come down on it hard".
Speaking during a Downing Street press conference the Health Secretary said the UK has now identified 105 cases of the South Africa variant, 11 of which have no links to international travel.
Mr Hancock said the UK is "surging" extra testing into the areas where the new variant has been found and going door to door to conduct the testing.
The strain has been found in the following postcodes: W7, N17, CR4, WS2, ME15, EN10, GU21 and PR9.
Mr Hancock said it was "imperative" that people in these areas stay at home and get a test when it is offered to them, even if they have no symptoms. Report by Thomasl.
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A team from South Africa recently visited the Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh to assess the readiness for the release of five to eight cheetahs.. IndiaTimes
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Ministers depart Number 10 following a cabinet meeting with prime minister Rishi Sunak.
Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Sir Ed Davey launches the Liberal Democrat’s local election campaign in Hertfordshire, by flipping a giant egg timer to reveal the message "Time's running out Rishi!" Speaking to activists afterwards, the Lib Dem leader said Rishi Sunak “might have bottled the May election, he might be hoping the tide will turn as he squats in Downing Street for a few months more. But even the prime minister can't deny voters across England the chance to cast their vote in the local elections on 2 May.” Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Ministers avoid questions from the press as they leave from Number 10, following prime minister Rishi Sunak's Cabinet meeting. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Ministers avoid questions from the press as they arrive at Number 10, ahead of prime minister Rishi Sunak's Cabinet meeting. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The Prince of Wales met 11-year-old Harry and his mother as he opened the Anchor Point community centre in Aston, Birmingham.
Report by Ajagbef. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Labour has pledged to renationalise the railways if it wins the next general election, with the shadow transport secretary saying that "today's broken model simply doesn't work". The party says it will also introduce a new watchdog focusing on passengers, and streamline tickets and timetables. The government insists the plan will "do nothing" to improve service reliability or affordability. Meanwhile, passengers at Manchester Piccadilly station expressed frustration with rail services, but little enthusiasm for Labour’s plans. Report by Jonesia. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and his candidate Helen Morgan campaign in the North Shropshire constituency after Owen Paterson resignation prompted a by-election. The Lib Dem leader calls Mrs Morgan a "brilliant" MP and says that "even life long Conservative voters" want to back her. He also calls for fare prices to be frozen saying "the railways are in a total mess" and "something needs to be done". Report by Czubalam. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Protests took place outside the Post Office Inquiry as Angela van den Bogerd gave evidence saying she was "truly sorry" for the "devastation caused" by the wrongful conviction of subpostmasters. Report by Czubalam. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Labour pledges to renationalise the railways if elected, in what the party calls the “biggest overhaul to our railways in a generation.” A Labour government will transfer rail networks to public ownership within its first term by folding existing private passenger rail contracts into a new body as they expire, Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh says. Report by Czubalam. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Sir Keir Starmer speaks after visiting Hearhrow Terminal 2’s Covid testing facility, amid calls from the Labour leader to increase the red flag countries to protect the UK from the South African..
Credit: PA - Press Association STUDIO Duration: 01:38Published
Health officials said the first California cases of a more virulent strain of COVID-19 from South Africa have been found in Alameda and Santa Clara counties. Maria Medina reports. (2/10/21)
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