Lambeth today began carrying out “surge testing” for the South African variant of covid-19 in Streatham.

It is the second area bordering Croydon to be subject to surge testing in a week, following cases of the South African variant being found in Pollards Hill.

On-the-spot doorstep tests, home testing kits and mobile testing will be deployed in Streatham. The Department of Health said the move will help “control and suppress the spread” of the variant.

People in areas with postcodes SE27 0, SE27 9 and SW16 2, are “strongly encouraged” to take a coronavirus test, even if they are not showing symptoms, health officials said.

Track and trace: Residents in Streatham and Pollards Hill are asked to stay at home

People in Streatham are told to further limit the time they spend away from home.

Lambeth Council said today: “This is to help us track any potential cases after a case of the variant of covid-19, that was first identified in South Africa, was discovered in the area.”

There is no evidence that the South Africa variant causes more serious illness for the vast majority of people who become infected.

Public Health England said 170 cases of the South African variant had been identified so far, including 18 that are not linked to travel.

• For daily updates of covid-19 data for Croydon, check out the UK Coronavirus Tracker page here

• For archive coverage of the coronavirus pandemic in Croydon, click here

• You can support Inside Croydon’s news-breaking independent local journalism. Sign up today as a subscriber. Click here

• What’s on inside Croydon: Click here for the latest events listings, powered by Now Croydon

• If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
• Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network
• Inside Croydon works together with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and BBC London News
• ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: Croydon was named the country’s rottenest borough in 2020 in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine – the fourth successive year that Inside Croydon has been the source for such award-winning nominations
• Inside Croydon: 3million page views in 2020. Seen by 1.4million unique visitors