Laboratory assessing Telford Covid cases as mutation is 'closely monitored'
Cases of a Covid mutation in Telford are being "closely monitored", with tests currently being sequenced in a laboratory to find out how far it has spread.
Public health officials say they are still asking people in Hadley, and their friends and extended family, to get full Covid tests – even if they are not showing symptoms.
It comes after it was revealed that several cases of a UK variant had been identified in the Hadley and Leegomery area last week.
While the effort continues to uncover the extent to which the variant has spread, overall cases in the borough have remained stable in the seven days to April 25 – actually dropping by four on the previous week to 41.
Meanwhile over in the Shropshire Council area, the authority said there had been a spike in cases linked to an outbreak at a food factory in Bala.
Liz Noakes, Telford and Wrekin's director for public health, praised the efforts of residents across Hadley and Leegomery in coming forward to get tested.
She said that the tests would be analysed in a laboratory to work out how many cases involved the variant.
She said: "The council continues to work hard to monitor the cluster of cases in Hadley and Leegomery involving the mutation of the UK-variant.
"We have seen a huge community effort in these areas to go out and get tested.
"So I want to say thank you to everyone who has been to get tested. Each one helps us to track and stop the spread of the virus.”
She added: "Every test will be sequenced in a laboratory to confirm who has the mutation of the Covid-19 variant.
"The sequencing takes time, so we can't update yet on the situation."
Councillor Andy Burford, Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet member for health and social care, said: "It's reassuring that coronavirus cases in Telford and Wrekin remain low, but we do need to monitor this mutation closely.
"We've seen a good response for people to get tested, and our Health Protection Team is working hard to stop the spread of the virus.
"Thank you to everyone in the local community for doing their bit.
"New variants and mutations of the Coronavirus underline why we all need to continue to play our part to help suppress and control the spread of the virus.
"This is why it is essential for all residents in Telford and Wrekin to get a rapid test twice a week.
"People should be getting a rapid test twice a week even if they feel well and have been vaccinated. They could spread the virus without knowing it.
"It's straightforward to do, pick up a home testing kit from the many collection points across the borough or go to one of our rapid testing sites.
"Anybody who tests positive on a rapid test should go on to get a PCR Covid-19 test."
PCR tests can be booked on the government website, when booking people should say the ‘council has asked me to get a test even though I do not have symptoms'.
