SURGE testing could take place in Bolton after two cases of the 'worrying' South African variant of coronavirus have been identified in the borough

The cases are not thought to be linked ­— but surge testing has not been ruled out in Bolton.

Other places in the country have ramped up testing after the strain was identified.

Health bosses in Bolton say that the risk of onward transmission from the cases are low ­— and in one case it has not been possible to establish where the individual acquired the infection.

There are 213 confirmed cases of the variant in England ­— with surge testing deployed in the West Midlands last week after cases of the mutation were found.

A spokesperson for Bolton Council’s Public Health team said: “We have been notified of two cases, which aren’t believed to be linked, in recent weeks of the South Africa Variant in Bolton.

"We are working with Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace.

“We want to reassure the public that the risk of any onward spread is low and that actions which are being planned jointly with Public Health England are precautionary. There is no evidence that it causes more severe illness.

“If you cannot work from home it’s important that you get tested at one of our testing centres for those without symptoms. One in three people have the virus but don’t develop symptoms, and can be spreading it to others.

“It’s also important that anyone with symptoms does get tested and stays at home for the full 10 days. Covid-19 has not gone away and we need you to continue to follow the rules and to remember hands, face, space.

”Please do have the vaccine when you are invited to make an appointment.”

There are concerns that the South African variant can spread more readily and vaccines may not work quite as well against it.

A study suggests this strain remains the most worrying and should be the focus for manufacturers making new jabs.

Professor Andrew Hayward of University College London said over the weekend this variant was of “particular concern” because vaccine effectiveness against it is “quite low”.

He said: “If that strain starts to become dominant in this country, that would be a very bad thing."