Rapid testing at Stepping Hill after infections among staff and patients

STAFF at a hospital in Stockport will be rapidly tested for COVID-19 after a ‘small number’ of positive cases were confirmed.

The rapid testing programme was implemented at Stepping Hill Hospital on Friday and will see all staff tested for coronavirus in the next five days.

It comes after a ‘small number’ of patients and staff tested positive for the virus.

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said that widespread testing was being done to ‘control the spread of the infection’ in the hospital.

In a statement a trust spokesperson said: “We have begun a process of rapid staff testing for Covid-19 to strengthen our efforts to prevent and control the spread of the infection across Stepping Hill hospital.

“Changes to lockdown arrangements across parts of the north of England reflect the prevalence of the infection in our local communities, and recently we have identified a small number of infections amongst staff and patients.

“We have taken rapid action to safeguard ourselves and the people who need our care.

“On Friday evening we began the rapid testing programme that over the next five days will see all our hospital staff tested.

“Staff found to have the infection will be required to self-isolate in line with national guidelines.”

The most up to date coronavirus infection rate figures revealed that cases were increasing in Stockport in the week ending July 29.

The infection rate is continuing to spike in the borough, with 61 cases in the same week - the largest number since May 27.

There are 20.9 cases per 100,000 people in Stockport, compared to 8.2 on July 22. The rate has jumped by 4.1 in just two days.

Targeted lockdown measures were implemented across Greater Manchester at midnight on Thursday, following a concerning rise in the infection rate.

People in Greater Manchester have been banned from meeting each other inside their homes or in gardens.