Testing rolled out for asymptomatic cases in bid to break chain

Fife is to become one of the first areas in Scotland to roll out an asymptomatic community testing programme aimed at identifying positive Covid-19 cases and breaking chains of transmission.

NHS Fife and Fife Council have confirmed they will embark on a new programme which will offer testing for members of the public who have no symptoms associated with Covid-19, but who may be infectious and spreading the disease without knowing it.

Community testing will be targeted at communities where there is greatest need, using up-to-date data.

The first pop-up testing sites will be put in place in early February.

Waste water testing will also be used to identify transmission hotspots.

MHS Fife chief executive Carol Potter said: “This is an important expansion of testing which aims to help reduce Covid-19 rates in Fife, by identifying those who are positive cases but show no symptoms.

“Through early detection, we can reduce transmission within local areas.”

Steve Grimmond, chief executive of Fife Council, said he was pleased the region had been chosen as one of the first areas in Scotland to carry out asymptomatic community testing.

“Working in partnership with NHS Fife and with Scottish Government funding we have set out an ambitious plan that we’ll be rolling out in phases over the coming weeks and months,” he said.

“We’ll continue to work together, along with Fife Voluntary Action and other community partners, to make sure that households get the practical help and advice they need to isolate safely, if they’re required to.”

Meanwhile, rapid testing for Covid-19 has now been introduced at Perth Royal Infirmary following a successful launch at Ninewells.

NHS Tayside’s laboratory teams can offer the service 24 hours a day, with urgent tests for suspected cases.

Respiratory consultant and NHS Tayside’s clinical lead for winter planning Dr David Connell said: “Being able to quickly determine which patients coming into hospital have Covid-19 allows us to safely treat them in areas of the hospital dedicated to caring for people with the virus.”

Consultant clinical microbiologist John Shone said NHS Tayside virology was only the third lab to implement widespread Covid-19 testing in Scotland.

“Our teams have worked incredibly hard to provide a rapid service for suspected Covid-19 patients, and we are pleased to expand this even further thanks to the team at PRI,” he said.