COLCHESTER residents have been encouraged to get a rapid Covid test after strains of the Indian Covid variant were detected in the area.
Also known as the B.1.617.2 strain, the Indian Covid variant is believed to be more transmissible than other forms of Covid.
The Indian variant was discovered in Essex in late April, and has since been tracked by the Wellcome Sanger Institute (WSI).
Dr Mike Gogarty, Essex County Council's director of public health, admitted in an interview with BBC Essex that he was “worried” about the spread of the variant.
One case has been confirmed in Colchester, with it also being identified in at least seven households in Chelmsford.
Essex County Council is now urging people to get a test in order to prevent the variant from spreading further.
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Home self-test LFD test kits can be collected from libraries and pharmacies throughout the area, or can be ordered online from the Government and delivered free to your home address.
Alternatively, Covid testing centres are available throughout Colchester.
Here is where you can get a Covid test in Colchester:
Asda - Turner Rise, CO4 5TU
Opening Hours: 7am - 11pm
Day Lewis - Crouch Street, CO3 3EZ
Opening hours: 09am - 06pm
Colchester Library - Trinity Square, CO1 1JB
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm
Boots - Lion Walk, CO1 1LX
Opening hours: 9am - 06.30pm
Day Lewis - Priory Walk, CO1 1LG
Opening hours: 9am - 5.30pm
DBM Medicals - Queen Street, CO1 2PJ
Opening hours: 7am - 11pm
Day Lewis - East Hill, CO1 2QW
Opening hours: 8.30am - 6.30pm
Gm Graham Pharmacies - Cavalry Road, CO2 7GH
Opening hours: 8am - 8pm
L Rowland & Co - 13 Nayland Road, CO4 5EG
Opening hours: 09:00am - 06:00pm
Abbey Field Health - Abbey Field Medical Ctr, CO2 7UW
Opening hours: 8.30am - 6pm
Boots - Military Road, CO1 2AR
Opening hours: 8.30am - 6.30pm
Tesco In-Store Pharmacy - CO4 9ED
Today's opening hours: 08:00am - 08:00pm
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