Enhanced contact tracing and testing have begun to control the spread of the Indian variant, which has been discovered in Milton Keynes.
The COVID-19 strain, known as B1.617.2, is said to be more transmissible and has been labelled a 'variant of concern' by the World Health Organisation.
There are 1,313 cases of the variant in the UK, up from the 520 recorded the previous week.
It is becoming the dominant strain in certain areas across the country, including parts of the North East, and, more locally, South Northamptonshire and Bedford.
MKFM yesterday (13/5) revealed that the Radcliffe School, located in Wolverton, had a "small number" of cases of the Indian variant linked to the school.
It has since been confirmed that this strain had been circulating within the community as these cases were not related to travel.
Enhanced contact tracing and surge testing are underway in the local area to prevent any further spread.
As a precautionary measure, PCR tests will be carried out at the Radcliffe School today (14/5), testing Year 9 staff and all staff who teach this year group.
Milton Keynes Council has said that the local authority is working alongside Public Health England to control the variant.
Letters are also being sent out to parents of school-age children informing them about the variant, and advising that they continue doing regular asymptomatic testing.
It's been reported to parents today that a number of #IndiaVariant #Covid19 cases have been detected in school age children in #MiltonKeynes.
— Ryan J Gillies (@ryanjgillies) May 14, 2021
Don't panic, but let's not be complacent either.#coronavirus #lovemk #restartmk #handsfacespace @mkfm @mk_citizen @mkcouncil pic.twitter.com/ep2mpIVBng
A spokesperson for the Council said: "A small number of cases of the COVID-19 variant known as VOC-21APR-02 or B1.617.2 (first identified in India) have been identified in Milton Keynes. These cases are not related to travel.
"We are working closely with Public Health England to investigate the cases and contain the spread of this variant. We are undertaking enhanced contact tracing and targeted testing where required.
"Currently, overall cases in Milton Keynes remain relatively low. However, the emergence of this new strain locally and the speed with which it has spread in nearby Bedford, is a reminder that we must all continue to do what we can to control the spread of the virus.”
Bedford's case rate, or infection rate, currently stands at 72.7 cases per 100,000 people which is far higher than the national average of 21.9.
Milton Keynes' infection rate is 19.3, which is low in comparison, but this figure has been rising each day.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he is "anxious" about the variant of concern, and a member of the Independent Sage group of experts has said the growth of the new variant leads her to conclude that next week's planned relaxation of measures should be delayed.
But vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi has insisted that step three of England's lockdown easing will still go ahead on Monday (17/5), despite the soaring cases of the Indian variant.
He said Monday's plans would remain in place "because the vaccines are delivering" and "at the moment we have no evidence it [the variant] escapes vaccines".
