The outcomes of targeted tests to track the South African coronavirus variant in England could take up to two weeks, public health officials have said.

Any positive results will be sent for genome sequencing to identify the variant – a process which usually takes around a fortnight.

But Public Health England said the most recent tests rolled out in a number of areas of the country this week will be prioritised in a bid to speed up the process.

Door-to-door testing as part of urgent efforts to swab 80,000 people came after eleven cases of the variant were identified in the previous few days in people who had no links to travel – suggesting it may be spreading in communities.

The emergency testing was introduced in Broxbourne and is being rolled out for another week until February 12, the council said.

Hundreds of test kits were given out in Tottenham when the testing rollout began there on Thursday and will continue into next week, a spokesman for Haringey Council said.

He added that “feedback has been really positive from residents”.

Meanwhile areas such as Kent and Woking have completed their testing.

Hertfordshire County Council has urged all residents in the EN10 area of Broxbourne to have the Covid-19 test, with a push of information through letterboxes.

Since February 4, households are being directly contacted at their doorstep and will be provided with a home testing kit from a public health or licensed officer (with hi-visibility uniform or valid ID).

The main aim of this increase in testing capacity is to find any other cases and help to suppress this new variant from spreading any further in the local community.

What has been set-up in Broxbourne?

Extra mobile testing capacity has been set up at the Broxbourne Lido site & Paradise Wildlife Park (in EN10, Broxbourne) and from Tuesday, February 2, home testing kits will also be available to pick up from Wormley Community Centre and Hoddesdon Library.

People are being urged to get a test whether they have symptoms of the virus or not.

Jim McManus, Director of Public Health at Hertfordshire County Council, said: “It is vitally important that we test as many adults in this local area, whether showing symptoms or not. This is an important step in containing this new South African variant of COVID-19 from spreading further in our local communities.

“Although this new variant of COVID-19 is thought to be more easily transmitted, there is currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe illness, or that the regulated vaccine would not protect against it.”

Lewis Cocking, Leader of Broxbourne Council, said: “Testing plays an important role in stopping the spread of the virus. Testing, even when you do not have symptoms, helps identify people with the virus so that they can isolate and avoid spreading it to others in the community.

“I don’t want people to be alarmed at this new development. It is an isolated case but I am urging all members of the public that live in the EN10 postcode area, who are not showing symptoms, to either book an appointment online or use a home testing kit.”

Anyone with questions or looking for more information about the testing scheme should visit: https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/about-the-council/news/coronavirus-tests-broxbourne.aspx