UK health authorities on Thursday added another region for surge testing following the identification of a “small number” of confirmed cases of the Delta variant of Covid-19 or the highly transmissible B1.617.2 mutation first identified in India. The National Health Service (NHS) Test and Trace system launched additional testing and genomic sequencing at Gamesley Ward in the High Peak area of England’s Derbyshire county, in partnership with the local authorities. All the confirmed cases in the area have been instructed to self-isolate, and their contacts have been identified, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said. “Everyone aged five and over who lives or works in this area is strongly encouraged to take a Covid-19 PCR test from today, whether they are showing symptoms or not,” DHSC said. “Enhanced contact tracing will be used for individuals testing positive with a variant of concern (VOC). This is where contact tracers look back over an extended period to determine the route of transmission,” it added.

Any PCR positive test results will be sent for genomic sequencing at specialist laboratories to help officials identify Covid-19 cases with a variant of concern and prevent its further spread.

As part of the surge testing system, people are also being encouraged to use the free twice-weekly rapid tests, commonly known as lateral flow devices or LFDs, to be followed up with a PCR test.Several regions across the UK are now covered by the surge testing protocol, including many councils of London, as part of efforts to contain the spread of the Delta variant.

It comes as official figures show that more than half of UK adults have now had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine.

“Now let’s finish the job. When it’s your turn, get the jab,” UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Twitter in reference to the latest figures.