More Londoners urged to take a test as Covid South African variant spreads to Barnet

People stand in line for coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London

(PA)

More Londoners have been urged to take a test as the South African variant spreads across capital.

People living in an area of Barnet have been told a case of the variant of coronavirus was detected in the north London borough.

It comes after initial cases were detected in Lambeth, Wandsworth and Southwark in south London.

Teams of officials will go door-to-door in areas under the N3 postcode to deliver PCR test kits and a mobile testing unit will be set up in the car park of Finchley Central Station.

A statement on the council’s website said: “The South African variant of Covid-19 has been found in Barnet.

“From Thursday 15 April we will start testing people for this variant in specific postcode areas affected in N3 or those who shop on the local high street.”

Earlier today, hundreds of people queued on Clapham Common to take tests at additional facilities set up by the local council.

Lines stretched across the green from halfway down Windmill Drive to the main road on Wednesday morning.

Marshals said they had advised people that wait times could be up to two hours on Tuesday afternoon and were forced to stop people joining the queue.

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