I want to say thank you to residents for their fantastic response
MORE than 7,500 people in Kirklees have taken part in the mass community testing scheme since centres opened last week, the council has confirmed.
Four walk-in testing centres, offering tests for anyone over the age of 11 who does not have symptoms, opened across Kirklees on Friday. The centres are located at Batley Library, the Walsh Building in Dewsbury, the Hudawi Centre in Huddersfield and the Greenwood Centre in Ravensthorpe.
And uptake has so far been reasonably high, with more than 7,500 people already getting a test.
Out of the thousands of tests that have taken place, more than 70 people who were not displaying symptoms tested positive for the virus. A Kirklees Council health chief praised the community’s ‘fantastic response’ and thanked all those who had taken a test for playing their part in the fight against Covid.
Rachel Spencer-Henshall, director of public health, said: “Over seven-and-a-half thousand people have played their part and taken a test since we opened last Friday. It’s been a fantastic response from people across Kirklees who know how important it is to find and isolate cases. We’ve already identified more than 70 people who would otherwise never have known they had the virus but who could have spread it. These kinds of numbers make a big difference in controlling the virus. I want to thank all council colleagues who have worked round-the-clock to set up the centres and welcome local people in. We have also had huge help from the RAF in setting up the centres in just a matter of days. But most of all, I want to say thank you to residents who have yet again stepped up to support their community.”
All four testing centres are now closed until 2pm on December 28.
Rachel added: “Testing for anyone with symptoms will stay open throughout Christmas and you can get a test by calling 119 or visiting the government website.”