Deliveroo to notify users about surge testing in their area

Deliveroo has begun notifying customers if surge testing is happening in their area as the government looks to tackle coronavirus variants across the country.

Since 18 June the takeaway app and website is alerting users after they have paid for their food if surge testing is being offered by their local authority.

Deliveroo founder Will Shu said the company wanted "to do our bit" to help NHS Test and Trace when asked.

The delivery service reaches over 60% of the UK population and works with 50,000 riders and 44,000 restaurants, an announcement said.

"We've used our network to support the NHS throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so however we can," said Shu. "We hope this and other measures the government is taking will accelerate the return to normality we all want to see."

The government is offering testing, isolation support and encouraging vaccine uptake in specific areas to stop the spread of the Delta variant.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said: "We are using every tool at our disposal to stop the spread of variants of concern, and thanks to Deliveroo, this new partnership will reach even more of the public to help us test as many people as possible and identify variants of concern."

Rising cases caused by the Delta variant contributed to the four-week delay to ‘Freedom Day' in England, when further restrictions would ease, until 19 July.

Image: nrqemi / Shutterstock