At the beginning of the week, surge testing began, which included door to door visits after cases were not connected to foreign travel.

Today, testing began in parts of Worcestershire bristol on south, close to share after a small number of cases were discovered there.

Well, our health correspondent Catherine is here with us now, and there are new developments on this tonight.

Catherine Yes, the F T.

Is reporting some early data that the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine doesn't appear to be protecting against Martin moderate symptoms caused by the South African variant.

Now it comes just a day after the pharmaceutical company said that the vaccine is effective presenting against the U.

K variant.

There are some caveats, though.

This is preliminary findings from a more study of about 2000 people in South Africa, and it's not being peer reviewed.

There's been no comment from AstraZeneca or Oxford University on this study, but crucially, it's being reported that the vaccine is still seems to be effective in preventing deaths and hospital admissions Now.

Yesterday, the head of AstraZeneca said it wouldn't be surprising if levels of protection dip with the South Africa varying, given what we've seen in early results from other vaccines developers already working on tweaking their vaccines to cope with new emerging variants.

It's something that already happens with the flu jab on it.

Maybe in future that we need to have a booster shot each year.

Okay, Captain.

Thank you.