From this week, UKHSA launches a new COVID-19 surveillance programme, sequencing positive COVID-19 tests from a sample of passengers flying in from China to Heathrow.
London, UK: The ‘on arrival’ coronavirus (COVID-19) testing program will offer swabs to perform PCR tests on up to 20% of arrivals from selected flights. Positive tests will then be sent for sequencing and analysis.
Samples will be processed by existing UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) testing laboratories. Passengers will receive their test results via text or email. Positive samples will go on for genomic analysis for the detection of variants. If a positive test is returned, passengers will be advised to follow existing UKHSA guidance.
UKHSA said in its press release, “In order to gather further genomic data, UKHSA has also asked NHS services to identify any patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who have a travel history which includes China in the preceding 14 days. All positive samples from hospitalized patients with this travel history will be prioritized for sequencing”.
“Any sequences obtained will be analyzed for new or emerging variants and also be uploaded rapidly onto open-access databases, including GISAID so that the UK can continue to contribute to global health knowledge and security”.
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said:
Testing passengers on arrival from China will allow UKHSA to rapidly detect any potential new variants that have not yet been picked up through international surveillance.
The evidence so far suggests that the recent rise in cases in China is due to low natural immunity and low vaccine uptake, but this extra data will allow us to keep the situation under review.
COVID-19 remains highly prevalent here in England too and it remains important to try to stay at home if you are unwell, wash your hands regularly, and try to keep rooms well ventilated. Remember the best protection is to get your booster jab if eligible.
The UK government has already announced that people flying from mainland China to England will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 pre-departure test taken no more than 2 days prior to departure.
