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