Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Wight and wrong way to test
LONDONERS TOLD TO GO TO WALES OR ACROSS THE SOLENT TO GET COVID-19 TESTING
LONDONERS who fear they have coronavirus are having to travel as far as the Isle of Wight and Wales for a test.
Because testing is being prioritised in high-risk areas where there are known Covid-19 outbreaks it is leading to shortages in other places.
And the BBC is reporting that this has led to some people with symptoms having to drive more than 100 miles for a swab.
It has found that Londoners have been directed to test sites between 50 and 135 miles away, including in Cardiff and the Isle Of Wight - with anyone travelling to the latter having to get a ferry or hovercraft.
It is partly down to how few coronavirus cases there currently are in London – which has meant testing capacity has been reduced here to allow it to be ramped up elsewhere.
There are concerns, however, that this could lead to new spikes being missed in areas where it becomes tricky to get a test.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told BBC Breakfast: “It’s true we’ve put a huge amount of testing into the areas of outbreak where the number of cases are much higher.
“If people need a test, the vast majority get it quickly and close to home. But when those testing centres are full then obviously people are offered a test at the nearest place where one is available.”
A £500 million fund to trial a 20-minute saliva test has been unveiled and Mr Hancock hopes these new rapid tests could “solve the problem”.
There will also be a trial in Salford, in Manchester, of the benefits of repeatedly testing a population -which, if successful, could be used to remove some social distancing measures.
“Short of a vaccine, this is the best chance we have of reducing social distancing whilst controlling the virus, especially with winter coming and all the challenges that brings,” Mr Hancock told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Dr Zoe Norris, a GP, told BBC Breakfast the huge journeys would mean some people not being able to get the test to find out if they have the virus.
“I’ve certainly got patients who would not manage to drive those distances,” she said.
National testing capacity has not reduced, but it’s being outstripped by rising applications for tests.
The Department of Health and Social Care has responded by rationing testing slots.
It is prioritising areas with more current coronavirus cases and making fewer tests available in areas with lower infection rates.
Dr Stephen Baker at the University of Cambridge, who has been conducting testing for the area’s hospital staff, said this was a “pragmatic move from the Government to focus resources where they are most needed”, but the strategy could become a problem if more cases developed outside the current areas of concern.
People with symptoms and key workers can still apply for home testing kits, although these take longer as people have to wait for them to arrive and then wait for their results.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: “There is a high demand for tests and our laboratories continue to turn test results around as quickly as possible.
“To make sure we stay in control of this virus we are targeting our testing capacity at the areas that need it most, including those where there is an outbreak, as well as prioritising at-risk groups.”
But virologist Professor Nicola Stonehouse at the University of
Leeds said: “Although cases are low we need to remember that the pandemic started from a single case and that only a small number of people entering the UK (mainly from Italy) resulted in the large number of cases earlier this year.”
The Government has pledged to increase its capacity to 500,000 tests a day by the end of October.
Currently, it says, testing capacity is about 350,000 a day – but only just over half of that is being used.
The Department of Health stressed that booking slots were added in the evening for morning appointments and in the morning for afternoon appointments, so more local slots might become available through the day.
If people cannot book a test at a location that’s convenient for them they are urged to try again a few hours later.