Covid-19: Test blitz for South African variant, and unis want loan interest suspended

Health Minister Matt Hancock announced on Monday evening that 105 cases of the South African variant of Covid-19 had been found in the UK. Of these, 11 had no connections with international travel. In response, The government is starting mass door-to-door audits in eight parts of England where the variant was found – they are in Surrey, London, Kent, Hertfordshire, Southport and Walsall. Regardless of the symptoms, around 80,000 people over the age of 16 will be tested. Mr. Hancock said he wanted to find “every case” of the variant in order to “break the chain of transmission”. He said there was “no evidence” that the South African variant was more serious – but it is believed it could be more contagious. Dr. Public Health England’s Susan Hopkins said vaccines “might” have “reduced” the effectiveness of the variant but were still “very good”. Learn more about the South African variant here – and see Mr Hancock’s announcement below.