A TOTAL of 11 people – who have no links to travel – have tested positive for the South African Covid-19 variant across England in the last five or six days.

But what do we know about this strain of coronavirus and what do these positive cases mean for the country?

What is the South African variant?

Last month, researchers from South Africa found that the SA variant, known as 501Y.V2, contains mutations that may be resistant to immunity from previous coronavirus infection.

The South African variant is thought to be as transmissible as the variant that was first identified in Kent but there is no evidence as of yet that it causes more severe disease.

What are the symptoms?

There is not yet any evidence to suggest that symptoms differ from the three ‘classic’ Covid-19 symptoms already identified by the NHS.

The three main covid symptoms are a new persistent cough, a high temperature and a loss of taste and smell.

Is it concerning and what is being done to find out more about it?

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last month that the variant is being tested at the Government’s Porton Down research facility as well as in a clinical trial in South Africa to check the efficacy of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

In comments from what is reportedly a recording of an online webinar with travel agents, obtained by MailOnline, Mr Hancock said: “There is evidence in the public domain, although we are not sure of this data so I wouldn’t say this in public, but that the South African variant reduces by about 50% the vaccine efficacy.”

It is not yet known whether the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine will be effective against the variant, although other vaccines have shown promising results.

What has happened with the SA variant in England and is it now spreading in the community?

Experts are now seeking to urgently test 80,000 people for Covid-19 after it emerged that the South African strain may have spread in some regions of England.

Health officials said 11 people had been identified who have tested positive for the variant, but who have no links to travel.

This suggests there may small pockets of spread in local communities of the new variant, with the possibility of further cases.

Experts from Public Health England (PHE) are now hoping to break any chains of transmission.

To date, 105 cases of the South African variant have been identified in the UK since December 22 but all of those had links to travel.

Experts advising the Government said they did not think the current vaccines would need to be tweaked to deal with any spread of the South African variant.

Where will the testing take place?

Mobile testing units are being sent into the affected areas: Hanwell, west London; Tottenham, north London; Mitcham, south London; Walsall in the West Midlands; Broxbourne, Hertfordshire; Maidstone, Kent; Woking, Surrey; and Southport, Merseyside.