Matt Hancock challenged by Sky News host over Indian variant

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The Delta variant is currently behind a concerning spike in Covid infections, with both rates rapidly increasing. Officials noted nearly 8,000 new infections today, with rates at around 100 to 200 per 100,000 in noted hotspots. As the dominant variant, Delta has set a foothold in some parts of London, forcing authorities to expand surge testing.

Which parts of London have the highest Delta rates?

Officials have indicated Delta now accounts for 60 percent of all Covid cases in London, roughly two in three.

Weekly figures up to the end of May showed testers had identified 1,526 cases of the variant otherwise known as B1.617.2.

Of those detected, 247 had originated from people entering the UK from abroad.

Data leading to June 2 showed Hillingdon had the highest number of cases with 148.

Croydon followed the 137, just ahead of Hounslow with 118, Ealing with 113, Brent with 108 and Greenwich with 100.

Case rates show a different picture in the nation’s capital, however.

These consider the total rate of all Covid cases per 100,000.

The following boroughs have the highest overall rates:

Kingston: 144 cases (81.1) up by 74

Lambeth: 180 cases (55.2) up by 31

Hounslow: 150 cases (55.2) up by six

These numbers have prompted authorities to extend surge testing in the city, with Kingson as a new target.

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The borough recently saw a surge in Delta variant cases, with all younger people and those aged 19 to 24 now required to take a PCR test.

Primary and secondary schools and their staff will also have tests offered to them.

The Government will distribute roughly 90,000 testing kits to the area over the next three weeks.

And people can have them delivered to their homes, or through their workplace or school.

The areas now using surge testing include:

• Kingston Council
• Brent Council
• Ealing Council
• Harrow Council
• Hillingdon Council
• Redbridge Council

Iona Lidington, Kingston Council’s Director of Public Health, said the targeted testing comes as officials have noted a spike primarily in “younger ages”.

But she added the council would endeavour to ensure anyone can get a test via local sites, whether in the priority list or not.

She said: “In Kingston, both our testing and vaccine uptakes have consistently been above average, demonstrating the collective commitment of our borough to defeat this virus.”

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