Thousands of people received a Covid-19 test yesterday as surge testing for the Brazil variant began.

People who live or work in specific postcode areas of Bradley Stoke, Patchway and Little Stoke have been invited for a test this week after two cases of the of the variant of concern first identified in Manaus were detected in the area.

Around 2,500 people attended the community surge testing units at Stoke Gifford Parkway Park & Ride and the Coach Park at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway yesterday.

Additionally, more than 3,200 test kits have been collected from our community collect and drop sites at Little Stoke and Patchway Community Centres.

A further three collect and drop sites have opened today. They are located at:

  • Baileys Court Activity Centre, Baileys Court Road, Bradley Stoke BS32 8B
  • Bradley Stoke Jubilee Centre, Savages Wood Road BS32 8HL (this site will not be open on Friday 5 March)
  • Coniston Community Centre, The Parade, Patchway BS34 5LP

Anyone who lives in the designated five postcode sectors, is aged 16 and over and is asymptomatic (without symptoms of Covid-19), is encouraged to get a test, as well as people who travel into that area for work or to visit someone they are in a support bubble with.

The postcode sectors are:

  • BS32 0
  • BS32 8
  • BS32 9
  • BS34 5
  • BS34 6

Around 30,000 people have been identified as being eligible for a test.

In February, 20 per cent of those eligible for similar testing following the identification of the Bristol variant came forward.

Sara Blackmore, director of public health at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “I want to thank everyone who has come forward for testing already and encourage all of those eligible in the target postcode areas to take part this week.

“Testing is a key part of the Road Map that will take us out of Covid restrictions and our priority right now is to make sure that we also identify any cases of the Brazilian variant so that we can protect our residents.

“This programme is precautionary, but the more data we have, the better we can understand and tackle the virus and of course every case among asymptomatic people that we can find and isolate, the lower our transmission rates will be and we can avoid inadvertently passing on Covid-19 to others.

“We do appreciate the challenge of undertaking an additional testing programme and want to thank you for your support as we continue to work together to protect our communities from Covid-19.

“The take up on just our first day of surge testing has been really encouraging and we are keen to make this as accessible as we can, which is why we have opened more Collect & Drop sites where people can pick up test kits for themselves, their household and potentially for other vulnerable residents.

“We want to emphasise that if you are collecting kits for others that you pass those on and take them back safely and that you return them to where you collected them as soon as possible.

“We would also remind people that this programme is in addition to the ongoing availability of testing if you have symptoms."