“TAKE a Covid test before hugging” is the stark message from health chiefs, after two suspected cases of the Indian strain is found in Southend.

Families have been told to take a rapid Covid test before they cuddle their friends and family, which is now allowed under the relaxed rules.

Krishna Ramkhelawon, director of public health in Southend, issued the warning, and said schools in Southend may be told to tell students to wear masks once again.

As of Monday, mask wearing in school was no longer mandatory.

Mr Ramkhelawon, said he hoped preventative measures would work.

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He said: “If you’re giving someone a hug, please get a test beforehand. Testing people before they go out and seeing people is important too.

“We can avoid a local lockdown.

“We have the tools to prevent it.”

It’s now only a “matter of time” before an outbreak of the Indian variant of Covid occurs, he says.

Backward contract tracing is in place to prevent such an outbreak from spreading.

Public health teams in Southend are now watching closely developments in the north of the country as to how the Indian variant spreads.

Early indications suggest the Covid vaccines are effective against the new variant.

NHS bosses in south Essex wrote to public health chiefs in Southend in recent days, to ask if the town needs an extra boost in vaccines to roll out to youngsters, as seen in Bolton and Blackburn.

However the offer was turned down by Mr Ramkhelawon as he believes the town “isn’t an area of concern.”

“We need everyone to have the jab, so please get your vaccine”, he added.

Tony Cox, leader of Southend’s Tories, said it’s vital that residents are careful.

He said: “It’s really important to get tested, especially if you’re going into work.

“We should be getting tested as often as we can and rightly so.”

Rapid Covid testing sites, PCR testing sites, and test pick up sites are dotted across the town.