Hampshire County Council has started sending surge testing envelopes to residents in 100 postcodes after a positive case of mutant variant of Covid-19 was detected in the Bramley area, north of Basingstoke.

The first such case in Hampshire, the South African variant of Covid-19 does not appear to cause more serious illness among most people, but it is believed to be more contagious than other forms of the virus.

The test envelopes sent to the targeted region contains a testing kit and a box. The box is for people to construct and place the completed tests in for collection by the council.

HCC has said that they are working with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Public Health England (PHE) and the Department of Health and Social Care to organise the localised rapid testing programme.

Residents who have to take the rapid test have been reminded that the test is free, and they will not be asked to pay or provide any financial information.

The postcodes where testing envelopes will be sent to are: The postcodes are: RG265AA; RG265BF; RG265DY; RG265JD; RG265UJ; RG265XD; RG265AB; RG265BH; RG265DZ; RG265JU; RG265UL; RG265XE; RG265AD; RG265BL; RG265EQ; RG265NJ; RG265UN; RG265XF; RG265AE; RG265BN; RG265FN; RG265NQ; RG265UP; RG265XG; RG265AF

RG265BP; RG265FW; RG265NW; RG265UQ; RG265XH; RG265AG; RG265BS; RG265FY; RG265QF; RG265UR; RG265XJ; RG265AH;RG265BT; RG265FZ; RG265QG; RG265US; RG265XL; RG265AJ; RG265BU; RG265GA; RG265QQ; RG265UT; RG265XN; RG265AN; RG265BW; RG265GB

RG265QX; RG265UU; RG265XP; RG265AP; RG265BX; RG265GF; RG265QY; RG265UW; RG265XQ; RG265AQ; RG265BY; RG265GG; RG265QZ; RG265UX; RG265AR; RG265BZ; RG265GH; RG265SZ; RG265UY; RG265AS; RG265DA; RG265GL; RG265TE; RG265UZ; RG265AU; RG265DD; RG265GN

RG265TG; RG265WF; RG265AX; RG265DR; RG265GP; RG265UE; RG265WG; RG265AY; RG265DS; RG265GQ; RG265UF; RG265WH; RG265AZ; RG265DT; RG265GR; RG265UG; RG265WJ; RG265BB; RG265DU; RG265GU; RG265UH; RG265XB.

On Saturday, Simon Bryant, Director of Public Health at Hampshire County Council said: “I appreciate that this news may be worrying for the local community, but it’s really important to understand that the risk of transmission from this single case is considered to be very low, helped by the fact that national restrictions are in place with most people staying at home and adhering to the Government guidance of ‘hands-face-space.’

“Furthermore, there is no evidence that this particular variant causes more severe illness, or that the regulated vaccines do not protect against it.

“The rapid local testing programme is primarily a precautionary measure designed to help the government to better understand and prevent the spread of new variants across the country.”

People in other areas in Hampshire have been advised to continue the national lockdown measures.

The council has said: “Whether people are contacted in relation to the local testing initiative or not, the advice for all residents in Hampshire, remains the same – stay at home, essential travel only, hands-face-space.”