The extra Manchester postcodes added for enhanced community testing following discovery of Covid mutation

Enhanced testing has begun in new areas of Manchester testing

Enhanced community testing has begun in parts of Moston and Harpurhey after a case of a mutated form of Covid-19 was detected.

The virus identified in this area is a Kent variant with E484K mutation and has recently been classified by NERVTAG (New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group) as a variant of concern.

Investigations are under way to understand if the virus has spread further in the community.

Manchester City Council is working with Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace to put in place additional testing in the local area to investigate further and to take action to limit the number of people exposed.

Testing will begin within the community today

If you do live in the boundary area, you're advised to attend one of the testing sites. You only need to take a test once.

These sites are for people who do not have symptoms but live, study or work within the postcode 9area.

A mobile testing site has been set up at the Ebsworth Street car park in Moston. It reamins open seven days a week between 10am and 5pm.

Additional testing sites will be set up in the southern part of the testing zone to enable everyone over the age of 16 who lives, works, or studies in the designated area to get a test as quickly as possible.

These sites will operate as walk-up centres with no need to book a test in advance. An additional testing site will also be made available within the next few days.

Volunteers will also begin knocking on people’s doors to offer alternative testing for anyone who can’t get out to a testing site, and testing will also be made available for people who work in the area but don’t necessarily live in the area.

Details of the post code areas affected are below:
M9 4
M40 9
M40 5

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