One-in-30 rapid tests positive
RESULTS OF FIRST 1,000 CHECKS IN CITY REVEALED
PUBLIC health officials have released the results of the first 1,000 rapid coronavirus tests carried out in Leicester - with one-in-30 positive.
The city council is offering the lateral flow tests to people without symptoms in a bid to try to prevent people unwittingly spreading Covid19.
The kits, which give a result within an hour, are available at a new walkin testing centre which opened at Fosse Neighbourhood Centre, in Mantle Road, off Tudor Road, on Thursday.
Latest figures show that, so far, 1,055 people have taken a test and 35 of them were positive.
That is one-in-30 people testing positive for the virus – a figure the city council said is slightly higher than it anticipated when it began the testing.
Those who have test positive with a lateral flow kit are asked to isolate and also take a more accurate PCR test as confirmation of the result.
The Fosse Neighbourhood Centre testing unit will be open every day throughout December, apart from December 24 to 28 and January 1.
A city council spokesman said: “The centre is being very well used and we are experiencing some queues in the morning, so we ask people to be patient when they go.
“Anyone who has symptoms should book a test in the usual way at one of the city’s other testing sites.”
Council staff are knocking on doors in the area inviting people to take tests.
They said it is part of their effort to “search out” the virus in the city, particularly in hotspot areas, and try to break the chain of transmission as infection numbers have been edging upwards in the run-up to Christmas.
Leicester’s director of public
The rapid tests are another tool for us in our bid to search out the virus and stop it spreading Ivan Browne, left
health, Professor Ivan Browne, said: “The rapid tests are another tool for us in our bid to search out the virus and stop it spreading.
“Being able to identify people who have no symptoms but may be unknowingly passing the virus on to others – in less than an hour – will be a big help in stopping the spread and an initial 36,000 test kits sent by the will ultimately save lives. Department of Health and Social
“Of course it’s still vital that we all Care and will receive up to 30,000 continue to follow the rules, wash tests each week, depending on takeour hands regularly, observeup.social distancing and wear a face covering Further lateral flow testing units when required.” will be set up in other hotspot areas
The city is working its way through of the city from next month.