Covid surge testing extended outside London

Residents in certain postcodes in Smethwick are being urged to get tested for coronavirus after a case of the South Africa variant was detected. It comes as surge testing is deployed in four London boroughs in a bid to halt its spread. Today programme's Justin Webb spoke to Dr Jeff Barrett, director of the Covid-19 Genomics Initiative at the Wellcome Sanger Institute; and Professor Kevin Fenton, London Regional Director for Public Health England. (Image: Surge testing for coronavirus disease in Lambeth and Clapham areas of London; Credit: Reuters)