Suffolk's director of public health Stuart Keeble urges Needham Market residents to keep getting coronavirus tests to help stop spread of Indian variant

Suffolk's health boss has said he is 'grateful' to residents who have had coronavirus tests to help slow the spread of the Indian variant.

It was announced on Friday that four new cases of the Indian variant had been detected in Suffolk - three in the Needham Market area and one in Newmarket.

A mobile testing unit was set up at the site of the former Mid Suffolk District Council offices off Hurstlea Road in Needham Market, with residents having been urged to get tests.

Two testing units were in operation at the site on Monday, with a total of 527 tests having been carried out.

Stuart Keeble, director of public health at Suffolk County Council, has called on residents to keep getting tested to help the authority to understand if and how the virus is spreading.

“The response from the Needham Market community continues to be excellent and we are very grateful," he said.

“I would urge anyone that is local to, or works in Needham Market, to please visit the site this week for a PCR test and help us establish if the virus is spreading.

“No vaccine is 100 per cent effective though so even if you have received one or both vaccines please get a PCR test.

“I also continue to ask everyone in Suffolk to follow national guidance: hands, face, space, open windows at home if you have visitors, and go for your first or second vaccination appointment when it is offered to you.”

He added that residents do not need to book appointments and can just turn up to the site.

"This will be helpful for people who are unable to book online, or who work in the town during the week," he said.

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