NHS Test and Trace staff A COVID-19 testing unit in Herefordshire is being redeployed to the help suppress the South African variant of the virus. The Ross-on-Wye mobile testing unit is being used to the help the government’s “surge testing” campaign in targeted areas to better understand the spread, and suppress, the South African variant. In a statement Herefordshire Council said that the least-used mobile testing units across the country are being reassigned by NHS Test and Trace to work in those areas where cases of the South African variant, which do not appear to have travel links, have been found .
SEVEN more care home residents in Herefordshire have died with coronavirus, the latest official figures show. The data from the Office for National Statistics shows that over the last week another 20 people have died in all settings, with coronavirus mentioned on their death certificate. According to the ONS or the most-recent seven-day period, there had been seven deaths in care homes, one elsewhere, one at a person s home and 11 in hospital. It means 227 deaths involving Covid-19 happened in Herefordshire up to January 15, and in the first two weeks of January alone, 10 deaths happened in care homes. The week before the toll stood at 203, with the four other deaths happening in previous weeks, but with a delay in them being registered.