A case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been found in Brentwood and residents are being urged to obtain PCR tests if necessary.

Essex County Council are running targeted testing focused on customers, staff and delivery drivers at a branch of the KFC in Brentwood High Street on 19 November and those who attended the Trinity Church in Pilgrims Hatch church two days later.

It is understood that a positive case of the Omicron variant has arisen due to a visitor from southern Africa coming into contact with a person in Brentwood.

Visitors to the KFC on Brentwood High Street between 1pm and 5pm on 19 November are being urged to take a PCR test immediately. Essex County Council have issued the same call to members of the congregation who visited Trinity Church in Pilgrims Hatch on 21 November.

They are being urged to attend mobile testing units, for drive-through appointments only.

Essex county council’s director for public health, Dr Mike Gogarty, said: “Thanks to the excellent work of our contact tracers, we have been able to identify settings which are the focus of our attention for testing.

“The aim is to understand what, if any, spread of the new variant within the local community may have occurred and limit the opportunity for any further spread. Robust contact tracing has taken place following identification of the single case.”