Two South African's tested positive for COVID despite having no travel links.

UK Govt to conducts door to door testing for South African variant after two people tested positive for COVID despite having no travel links.

The UK government will offer residents in parts of Surrey coronavirus tests, after two people tested positive for the South African variant despite having no travel links.

Health officials will carry out door-to-door testing in the Goldsworth Park and St Johns areas of Woking, regardless of whether people have symptoms or not, Mail Online reports. The swabs will be done by Surrey Local Resilience Forum (SLRF), along with Public Health England and the Department of Health and Social Care.

Ruth Hutchinson, director of public health for Surrey, said: 'This is a precautionary measure – the more cases of the variant we find, the better chance we have at stopping it from spreading further.


'By playing your part and taking the test, you'll be helping to keep your community and your loved ones safe.

'It's really important to say that there is currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe illness, so you don't need to worry.'


According to the report, there have been at least 94 cases of the South African variant, known as B.1.351, across the UK since December, and Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said all 94 cases identified as of last week were connected to travel from South Africa.


Dr. Alison Barnett, regional director at Public Health England South East, said: 'The UK has one of the best genomic systems in the world which has allowed us to detect the variant originating in South Africa here in Surrey.


'I urge everyone offered a test to take it up to help us to monitor the virus in our communities and to help suppress and control the spread of this variant.


'The most important thing is that people continue to follow the guidance that is in place – limit your number of contacts, wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, keep your distance and cover your face. If you test positive by any method, you must isolate to stop the spread of the virus.'

Amazon sues NY amid threat of virus labour lawsuit

Amazon sues NY amid threat of virus labor lawsuit

The company said Attorney General Letitia James was applying "an inconsistent and unfair" standard for workplace safety to Amazon. It asked the court to stop her inquiry.

Ms. James called the move "a sad attempt to distract from the facts and shirk accountability".

"We will not be intimidated by anyone, especially corporate bullies that put profits over the health and safety of working people," she said in a statement.


"We remain undeterred in our efforts to protect workers from exploitation and will continue to review all of our legal options."

Worker retaliation

Ms James launched her investigation last spring, after a small protest by a group of workers at a warehouse in Staten Island, New York, and the firing of organisers, including Christian Smalls.


At the time, she said it had raised concerns about illegal retaliation, noting that the state had codified the right to organise in its law.

New York Attorney General Letitia James called Amazon a "corporate bully"

In its complaint, Amazon said Ms James lacked oversight over the workplace issues, which it said are governed by national labour laws.

It also accused her of ignoring the steps the company has taken to protect its workers, pointing to a 30 March city inspection inspection of its warehouse in Staten Island, New York, which concluded that "there were absolutely no areas of concern".

The rate of infection among Amazon staff in New York is half that of the area's general population, it added.

It is unusual for companies to file pre-emptive lawsuits to block potential regulatory actions.


But Amazon said Ms James had threatened to sue unless the company met a list of demands, including reducing production speeds, subsidised bus service and reinstating Mr Smalls.


"Amazon cannot accept the OAG's attempt to subject Amazon to an inconsistent and unfair standard for workplace safety that is pre-empted by federal law and assigned to the primary jurisdiction of federal regulators - especially when the underlying facts show that Amazon has done an exemplary job responding to an unprecedented global pandemic," the firm said in the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Brooklyn.

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In the complaint, Amazon, which has a reputation for being aggressive against instances of workplace activism, said that it fired Mr Smalls for violating requests that he quarantine after being exposed to the virus.

Mr Smalls has pledged to continue protesting until better protections are in place. In November, he filed a class action lawsuit seeking damages for black and Hispanic workers.