"We don't want another lockdown": Concern as surge testing deployed in areas across London

Sadiq Khan, who is campaigning for Mayor of London, has told us people must follow the advice to get a PCR test in areas where cases of the South African variant of coronavirus are detected.

"What's really important is that we continue to follow the rules; wear a face mask inside the shops, social distance where you can, get regularly tested," he says.

Shaun Bailey - the Conservative candidate for London Mayor told us "anything that can keep us safe, we should be using.

"Keeping London open, keeping people safe, is definitely the goal, and surge testing will give us more accurate data, which I think is a good thing."

One expert said none ''of the vaccines are as effective against the South African variant - though studies suggest that the jabs still prevent severe disease and death.

Rapid surge testing has been deployed in four London boroughs - with all adults in Wandsworth and Lambeth being asked to get a test and people in specific areas of Barnet and Southwark also invited.

Commenting on surge testing, Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), told Good Morning Britain: From a vaccine point of view the South African variant is of concern.

We know from studies that none of the vaccines are as effective against the South African variant - though the vaccines still prevent against severe disease and death even with the South African variant.

The problem is, they may not protect against infection which allows infection to transmit, and if we allow transmission through the community in large numbers with high infection rates then we could see other variants emerging.''

Data up to April 7 suggests there have been 544 cases of the South African variant found in the UK in total, including 533 gnomically confirmed cases and 11 probable cases.

Surge testing involves swabbing people without any symptoms of the virus to see if they are infected using tests which are assessed in a laboratory setting - also known as a PCR test.

These are different to the 30 minute lateral flow tests.

Population data show that more than half a million adults live in the areas being asked to take tests as part of the surge testing programme.

Health officials said that the surge testing in Finchley, Barnet, was launched after a single case of the South African variant was identified.

The Department of Health and Social Care said that genomic sequencing indicates that the case is not linked'' to the cluster identified in South London.

The other candidates in the running to be London Mayor are:

Kam Balayev, Renew

Sian Berry, Green Party

Count Binface, Count Binface for Mayor of London

Valerie Brown, Burning Pink

Piers Corbyn, Let London Live

Max Fosh, Independent

Laurence Fox, Reclaim Party

Peter Gammons, UKIP

Richard Hewison, Rejoin EU

Vanessa Hudson, Animal Welfare Party

Steve Kelleher, Social Democratic Party

David Kurten, Heritage Party

Farah London, Independent

Nims Obunge, Independent

Niko Omilana, Independent

Luisa Porritt, Liberal Democrats

Mandu Reid, Women's Equality Party

Brian Rose, London Real Party