MATT Hancock has listed the areas in the UK where the new South African coronavirus has been identified.

The Health Secretary explained how mass testing would be implemented in each area to "break the chain of transmission" of this latest mutation during an appearance in the House of Commons today.

Areas of London and Kent were among the areas to be named, but no Sussex areas were included in the list.

Mr Hancock said: "We have found, here, 105 cases of the variant first identified in South Africa including 11 cases which don't appear to have any links to international travel.

Matt Hancock

Matt Hancock

"As with the variant first identified here in the UK, there is currently no evidence to suggest it is any more severe, but we have to come down on it hard.

"Our mission must be to stop its spread altogether and break those chains of transmission.

"In those areas where this variant has been found - parts of Broxbourne, London, Maidstone, Southport, Walsall and Woking - we are putting in extra testing and sequencing every positive test.

"Working with local authorities, we are going door to door to test everyone in those areas, and mobile testing units will be deployed offering PCR tests for people who have to leave their home for work or other essential reasons.

"We have also seen 11 cases of mutations of concern in Bristol and 32 in Liverpool, and are taking the same approach.

"In all these areas it is imperative that people must stay at home and only leave home where it is absolutely essential."

What is the South African variant?

Last month, researchers from South Africa found that the SA variant, known as 501Y.V2, contains mutations that may be resistant to immunity from previous coronavirus infection.

As part of the study, researchers analysed the impact of specific mutations in the spike gene of the SA variant and found that 501Y.V2 showed “complete escape” from monoclonal antibodies – man-made proteins that act like human antibodies in the immune system.

Similar findings were also observed in samples containing convalescent plasma – antibody-rich plasma of someone who has recovered from coronavirus.

The South African variant is thought to be as transmissible as the variant that was first identified in Kent but there is no evidence yet that it causes more severe disease.