SUSPECTED cases of the Indian variant of Covid-19 have been detected in Southend, public health bosses have revealed.

Two cases of the fast-spreading virus have been found in the town, with both patients coming into contact with people who have recently returned from India.

The cases are yet to be confirmed as the new Indian variant, with confirmation expected on Friday.

However it’s now only a “matter of time” before Southend sees an outbreak of the strain, say health chiefs.

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This comes as seven households in Chelmsford were found to have the Indian variant.

Residents in the city have been urged to get a Covid test as soon as possible.

There are now fears the variant will delay Government plans to fully lift Covid restrictions by June 21.

Krishna Ramkhelawon, director of public health for Southend, is treating every case of coronavirus in Southend “as if it’s the Indian variant.”

Genome analysis is being undertaken on every positive Covid test in the town.

Mr Ramkhelawon said: “Backward contact tracing is done straight away.

“We’re expecting the results of the two cases back in three days.

“There’s no concerns, they’ve both been contained.

“More than half of councils across the UK will have the new variant by the end of next week.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he hasn’t seen “anything conclusive” which will require him to deviate from the roadmap, but added that things would be clearer “in a few days”.

It’s understood public health chiefs recommended to lift the rules completely in July, a month later.

Mr Ramkhelawon told the Echo it “wouldn’t be wise” to stick to the June 21 date.

He said: “When people are saying derailing the plans, I don’t see it as that.

“The Government is being derailed, not the plans themselves, as that wasn’t recommended by directors of public health or Sage.”

Mr Ramkhelawon also insisted that Southend will be able to cope with any future national or local lockdowns, and said people need to keep abiding by the rules.

He added: “We have got plans in place.

“We just need people to stick to the good behaviours they’ve learnt over the past year.

“It’s crucial.

“Care homes are my priority, and they have been throughout the second wave.

“We undertook a review of our first plan, and the care homes have been written to, updating them of the plans.”