By Location of one person carrying Brazil variant is unknown.
Hunt for mystery person infected with Brazilian ‘variant of concern’ after six cases confirmed in Britain.
The COVID-19 variant, first seen in the city of Manaus, is thought to spread more rapidly than the original virus and to be more capable of evading existing vaccines.
Two of the cases in England come from a household in South Gloucestershire, where one person returned from Brazil in mid-February, before hotel quarantine measures were introduced.
The third case is unlinked and the whereabouts of the individual unknown, as they did not complete their test registration card, Public Health England said.
Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccines minister, told Sky News: “There is one case where the individual didn’t fill in their test card details so we can contact them.
“They’ve probably got a home kit or a test kit from their local authority.
“What we’re asking today is, anyone who had a test on 12 or 13 February to contact NHS 119 so that we make sure we identify that individual.”
Labour’s shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, said the news of the variant was “deeply concerning”.
“It is now vital that we do everything we can to contain it,” he said.
“But this is further proof that the delay in introducing a hotel quarantine was reckless and the continuing refusal to put in place a comprehensive system leaves us exposed to mutations coming from overseas.”
Surge testing will begin in South Gloucestershire from Monday for residents who live in five postcode areas:
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BS32 0
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BS32 8
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BS32 9
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BS34 5
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BS34 6
People who are aged over 16 and do not have symptoms of Covid-19 and people who travel into the five postcode areas for work or to visit someone they are in a support bubble with are invited to book a test.
PHE and NHS Test and Trace are also contacting the passengers on Swiss Air flight, LX318 travelling from Sao Paulo, through Zurich, and landing in London Heathrow on February 10.
