Mass testing is on the way
AREAS REVEALED FOR PILOT SCHEME BEGINNING IN TWO WEEKS
FOUR areas of the city and county where mass testing for Covid-19 will take place have been named – with results delivered in hours.
Forest Fields and Hyson Green in Nottingham, and the towns of Mansfield and Worksop will take part in a pilot scheme, with the first of the rapid “lateral flow” tests to take place in two weeks.
Jonathan Gribbin, director of Public Health for Nottinghamshire County Council, said the rollout of mass testing “will support schools and jobs because it will help us to reach the point when the strictest restrictions can be safely relaxed”.
According to the Government, around one in three people who have coronavirus are asymptomatic, meaning they don’t have any of signs of illness.
Mr Gribbin added: “We are pleased to learn that our bid to introduce targeted community testing using rapid testing kits has been approved by the Government.
“We can press ahead with plans to pilot asymptomatic testing to strengthen arrangements for test, trace and isolate in Nottingham.”
He said the areas were chosen because they have a high proportion of workers who are unable to work from home.
Councillor Sally Longford, deputy leader of Nottingham City Council, told the Post: “We know there have been high rates of Covid-19 infections in these areas and that citizens living here are of working age and more at risk from Covid-19.
“Many individuals living in Forest Fields and Hyson Green may also find it difficult to access testing, so the chosen site is close to transport routes that serve these communities.”
Residents will not need to display symptoms to access the tests and the results can be given within hours. The test itself takes just 30 seconds and involves a swab of the throat and nose.
Every person in the area will be able to have a test once a week and anyone who tests positive is required to self-isolate for ten days.
Exact locations of the testing centres will be confirmed and publicised in due course, with the Forest Fields and Hyson Green facilities expected to open in the next couple of weeks. Testing is planned to begin on January 25 in Mansfield, and from early February in Worksop.
The first communities to be involved will be Bellamy Road, Ladybrook and Oak Tree areas in Mansfield and the Manton and Sandy Lane areas of Worksop.
Mr Gribbin added: “We will use the lessons we can draw from this pilot and from the lessons emerging from other areas of the country to shape plans for introducing testing elsewhere in the county.
“For example, we are currently exploring options to work with a large employer to consider how testing employees on-site can benefit whole workforces.”
Councillor John Smart, who represents the Ransom Wood ward on Mansfield District Council for Labour, which covers the Bellamy Road estate, said: “It’s very pleasing that we’re one of the three, alongside Ladybrook and Oak Tree.
“I think it’s brilliant. The sooner the better. I would encourage everybody to have a test, as the only way we’re going to get topside of this is by mass testing, following the rules and accepting the injection when you’re offered it.
“We really need to take every advantage that we can.”
Mr Gribbin added: “Whilst testing is a valuable tool in the fight against the virus, it is not a substitute for continuing to follow the basic rules of Hands, Face and Space. It is particularly important that everyone receiving a negative test result continues to follow all of these rules.”