Covid: Which areas are being mass tested for variants?

Extra Covid tests are taking place in areas where new variants of coronavirus have been found.

This is known as surge testing - its purpose is to stop the spread of new forms of Covid at the very earliest stage.

Increased testing and enhanced contact tracing is carried out in very specific locations - local authority areas, postcodes or even individual streets.

Some of this is carried out by health officials going door-to-door. It includes testing of people who do not have Covid symptoms.

The testing also helps scientists better understand the new variants.

Surge testing is often used where there are outbreaks of new, more contagious variants.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that there are now 86 local authorities with five or more confirmed cases of the Indian Covid variant, and surge testing is taking place in many of the areas where cases are highest.

Second jabs may be brought forward in the worst-affected areas.

Surge testing is currently taking place in the following areas:

North West England

London

South East

West Midlands

Targeted community testing is also taking place in various areas across Scotland.

Scientists have identified a number of "variants of concern" - these are newly spotted versions of Covid, which could be more contagious.

Also, because they're newer, less is known about how they respond to current vaccines.

The Indian variant is the latest to cause concern - others include the Brazilian, South African and UK (Kent) variants. They are generally named after the place where they were first seen.

The PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test

People tested under the new variant surge programmes are being offered a PCR test.

This involves swabbing your nose or throat, dropping the swab in a vial of liquid and sending it to a lab for analysis.

It is regarded as the most reliable test, but normally takes a day or longer to get a result.

The lateral flow test

This also involves a swab from the nose or throat, which is dropped into liquid. The solution is then added to a test strip which shows a result in 20-30 minutes.

Wherever you are in the UK, if you have symptoms you should book a free test online. You will be sent to a testing site or have a testing kit sent to your home.

If you have problems booking, call 119 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland or 0300 303 2713 in Scotland.

Anyone in England can now get two free lateral flow tests each week - even if they do not have symptoms. Anyone in Scotland can also order free lateral flow tests online, or collect them from test centres in the afternoon.

Anyone who gets a positive result test must immediately self-isolate for at least 10 days. NHS Test and Trace will tell their contacts to isolate if necessary.

Self-isolating means not leaving home for exercise or even to buy food, medicines or other essentials.

People in England who fail to self-isolate after a positive test can be fined up to £10,000.

Anyone on a low income who has been told to self-isolate can claim a £500 payment.