COVID variants in Haringey

• Update on surge testing in Muswell Hill - 29 March 2021
• Brazilian COVID-19 variant in N10
• Update on enhanced coronavirus testing for the South African variant in N17 - 16 March 2021
• £500 self-isolation support payment available
• Further information

Update on surge testing in Muswell Hill

29 March 2021

We would like to thank all residents within the defined test area of N10 - Muswell Hill, who got tested this week to help with our surveillance of the COVID-19 Brazilian variant. This was following the detection of one case in February, traced back to travel from Brazil. As part of the test area was in the borough of Barnet, we worked in partnership with Barnet Council in coordinating the programme locally on behalf of NHS Test & Trace.

Many of you visited our Mobile Test Unit (MTU) in the M&S carpark behind Muswell Hill Broadway to get tested or picked up testing kits from; the MTU, temporary hub at Muswell Hill Library, Alexandra Palace or our team who knocked at your door. Overall we distributed over 3,000 test kits.

We have now completed our enhanced testing programme in the area and all tests returned to us will be sent for genetic analysis.  We expect to have initial results back in four weeks’ time.

Cases in Muswell Hill remain low and there is no change to the public health risk.  To keep cases low please continue to follow the Public Health guidance: Wash your hands regularly, wear a face covering in enclosed spaces and practice social distancing with people from outside your own household.  You should also get tested regularly if you are part of a household with nursery, school or college aged children or staff, including care bubbles.

Brazilian COVID-19 variant in N10

Public Health England recently found a case of the variant of the virus, first identified in Brazil, in the N10 postcode of Haringey, with connections to nearby Barnet postcodes in N10 and N11.

There is a link back to recent travel to Brazil. The case was picked up through prior surge testing and NHS contact tracing teams undertook a comprehensive investigation to identify any potential spread from the initial case.

Haringey Council worked with Barnet Council, Public Health England (PHE) and the Department of Health and Social Care to carry out a localised testing programme in specific parts of the N10 and N11 postcode areas. The programme ran from Friday 19 March to Friday 26 March.